Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This topic is presented to the scientific community with the aim of stimulating further research on the symbiotic relationship between regional development and sustainability, as well as its foundations and emerging challenges. While historically both concepts have been central to numerous socio-economic processes within spatial economies, the contemporary form of economies (characterized by models of scale, technological and knowledge intensification, agglomeration, urbanization, and digital transformation) has brought the study of this relationship to the forefront of cutting-edge issues. On one hand, the environmental and climate challenges faced by modern society have highlighted the reconsideration of the mix between the economy, the society, and the environment at the core of scientific research, policymaking, and social practice, in the balance (equilibrium) of sustainability. On the other hand, the demand for regional development, which transcends the neoclassical view of “regional growth”, is now seen as the pursuit of harmonious coexistence among regional economies and the convergence of regional disparities towards economic, social, and territorial cohesion. This, in turn, necessitates balancing the trade-offs between economic efficiency, social equity, and regional prosperity, while optimizing the management of natural resources and productive factors. Within this context, the primary focus of this topic is on the study of the coexistence of the two types of balance (equilibrium) required by sustainability and regional development. These issues have largely been studied in an intradisciplinary context but yet necessitate more interdisciplinary focus. To this end, this topic raises critical questions about whether the model towards sustainability and regional development is ultimately singular and multidisciplinary in nature; what we currently understand about it from both theoretical and empirical perspectives; and what emerging challenges science and society will need to confront moving forward. All papers delving into these critical debates are welcomed, i.e., theoretical and empirical, research and review articles, quantitative and qualitative, and letters or full-length articles, which are foremost multidisciplinary.

Dr. Dimitrios Tsiotas
Prof. Dr. Serafeim Polyzos
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Real Estate realestate	-	-	2024	15.0 days *	CHF 1000	Submit
Regional Science and Environmental Economics rsee	-	-	2024	35.5 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	4.1	8.9	2009	16.9 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Urban Science urbansci	3.2	3.7	2017	20.8 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

* Median value for all MDPI journals in the first half of 2026.

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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26 pages, 572 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Has the Environmental Tax Reform Encouraged Companies to Invest Across Regions?—Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

by Haibo Jia, Can Liu, Xiaobo Tao, Xiaoling Cui and Yuan Zhou

Sustainability 2026, 18(14), 7286; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18147286 - 16 Jul 2026

Viewed by 387

Abstract

Against the dual backdrop of the global green transition and China’s construction of a unified national market, the impact of environmental policies on the spatial allocation of capital has emerged as a core concern for academic researchers and policymakers alike. China’s implementation of [...] Read more.

Against the dual backdrop of the global green transition and China’s construction of a unified national market, the impact of environmental policies on the spatial allocation of capital has emerged as a core concern for academic researchers and policymakers alike. China’s implementation of the Environmental Protection Tax Law in 2018 completed the historic transition from the long-standing pollution discharge fee system to a formal environmental tax regime. While differentiated interprovincial tax rates under the new regime have the potential to reshape cross-regional capital flow patterns, existing literature lacks systematic micro-level empirical evidence regarding how environmental tax reform affects firms’ cross-regional investment and the underlying mechanisms driving such effects. This study constructs a sample of Chinese A-share-listed firms covering the period 2012 to 2024 and applies the difference-in-differences (DID) method to systematically examine the causal impact, transmission channels, and heterogeneous boundary conditions of environmental tax reform on firms’ cross-regional investment. The baseline estimation results confirm that environmental tax reform significantly stimulates cross-regional investment activities among firms located in provinces that raised environmental tax rates after the reform. This core conclusion remains robust across a series of validity checks, including parallel trend assumption tests, placebo tests, propensity score matching combined with difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) estimation, and the exclusion of confounding effects from contemporaneous policy interventions. Mechanism analysis identifies two core transmission channels through which the reform exerts its effects: rising pollution abatement costs and alleviation of corporate financing constraints. Further heterogeneity tests reveal that the promoting effect of the reform on cross-regional investment is more prominent for capital-intensive firms and firms located in regions with lower fiscal pressure and firms operating in regions with stricter environmental law enforcement. This study provides new micro-level empirical evidence supporting the applicability of both the pollution haven hypothesis and the Porter hypothesis in the Chinese institutional context and offers actionable policy insights for optimizing the design of the environmental tax system, guiding corporate green transformation, and facilitating coordinated regional development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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27 pages, 25745 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Relationship Between Networkization Level and Inequality Level Within Urban Agglomeration Development

by Lei Ning, Yue Niu, Yue Meng, Yuan Li and Qing Mo

Urban Sci. 2026, 10(7), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10070387 - 7 Jul 2026

Viewed by 296

Abstract

Network development level and inequality level within urban agglomerations profoundly shape regional sustainability and global competitiveness. Existing studies predominantly focus on economic scale, geographic proximity, and static cross-sectional data analysis, often lacking systematic consideration of people’s wellbeing, network connectivity, and dynamic evolutionary processes. [...] Read more.

Network development level and inequality level within urban agglomerations profoundly shape regional sustainability and global competitiveness. Existing studies predominantly focus on economic scale, geographic proximity, and static cross-sectional data analysis, often lacking systematic consideration of people’s wellbeing, network connectivity, and dynamic evolutionary processes. Furthermore, insufficient attention has been paid to the intrinsic connection between network development and inequality levels. Addressing this gap, this study systematically investigates the network development level, inequality level, and the correlation mechanisms between them, focusing on six national-level urban agglomerations located in China’s Yangtze River and Yellow River basins. Key findings include the following: (1) The overall connectivity efficiency of development networks within urban agglomerations continues to improve, yet the disparity in network status among node cities has gradually widened. The network centrality of core cities initially strengthens and then weakens. (2) Urban agglomerations with relatively lagging economic development often exhibit greater internal disparities in development momentum. Wealth distribution inequality within agglomerations has gradually eased, while the urban–rural development gap shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Conversely, social welfare distribution inequality has intensified overall. (3) Network indicators centering on centrality significantly contribute to the imbalance in regional wealth distribution. As social welfare distribution inequality increases, the influence of network centrality characteristics on it strengthens. (4) The impact of regional network development level on inequality level is hierarchical and directional. Increasing network density, average distance, and degree of association helps mitigate wealth distribution imbalance, whereas increasing network density and centrality may exacerbate regional development inequality. Overall, this study provides empirical evidence and theoretical support for policy-making of sustainable development in urban agglomerations, and enriches the theoretical connotation of regional balanced development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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42 pages, 1618 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Total Factor Carbon Productivity Effect of the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy from the Perspective of Sustainable Transformation: Heterogeneity Differentiation and Spatial Synergistic Gain

by Ziyu Liu and Yunlong Nie

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4389; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094389 - 29 Apr 2026

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

Amid accelerating urbanization, tensions between economic growth and environmental protection have become increasingly salient. Improving Total Factor Carbon Productivity (TFCP) is crucial for achieving sustainable urban development. Drawing on panel data for 282 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2009 to 2021, this paper examines [...] Read more.

Amid accelerating urbanization, tensions between economic growth and environmental protection have become increasingly salient. Improving Total Factor Carbon Productivity (TFCP) is crucial for achieving sustainable urban development. Drawing on panel data for 282 Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2009 to 2021, this paper examines the effects and underlying mechanisms of the Low-Carbon City Pilot (LCCP) policy on urban TFCP. The results suggest that the LCCP policy noticeably contributes to higher TFCP, and the finding remains valid after robustness checks and endogeneity corrections. The impact of the policy exhibits marked variation, yielding stronger gains in western regions of China, in small- and medium-sized cities, in cities not dependent on resource extraction, and in major transportation nodes. Technological progress, the optimization of industrial structure, and advances in economic development serve as key intermediary mechanisms. Moreover, the LCCP policy exhibits positive spatial spillover effects that help lift TFCP in neighboring cities. These findings provide empirical support for differentiated low-carbon policy design and regional coordinated low-carbon development, and carry considerable practical and strategic significance for balancing high-quality economic development and ecological protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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17 pages, 1271 KB  

Open AccessArticle

A Practical Application of Real Options Valuation to Urban Development Projects—The Case of the Deferral Option

by Dimitrios Kantianis, Dimitrios Tsiotas and Thomas Krabokoukis

Urban Sci. 2026, 10(3), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10030134 - 3 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

Nowadays, the urban population is steadily increasing worldwide and, as a result, global construction output is expected to grow to more than 16 trillion EUR by 2030. This rapid urbanization has created a strong need for the successful selection and delivery of urban [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the urban population is steadily increasing worldwide and, as a result, global construction output is expected to grow to more than 16 trillion EUR by 2030. This rapid urbanization has created a strong need for the successful selection and delivery of urban development projects to meet the challenges related to the provision of sustainable and resilient infrastructure, together with affordable residence solutions. Meanwhile, the dominance of the traditional capital budgeting discounted cash flow (DCF) technique has long been questioned for its inability to be effectively applied to the complex, uncertain, and turbulent current environment. The main cause of this stems from its deficiencies in recognizing and incorporating the value of managerial interventions through strategic decisions to delay, expand, or even abandon an investment. A real options analysis (ROA) is proposed in this paper as a dynamic “wait and see” alternative to the static “now or never” DCF methodology, which is based entirely on a positive net present value (NPV) output. Thus, the aim of the research is to explore whether the practical application of ROA for the assessment of the financial viability of urban development capital investment projects can be improved from the obtained managerial flexibility in the decision-making process. Spreadsheet-based mathematical models are developed for the analysis and implementation of both the Black–Scholes formula and the binomial lattice method. The results are discussed and compared with a classic DCF analysis. The main advantages of using ROA, i.e., determining alternative paths of urban development and providing a practical and flexible means to adapt to changing external conditions, are highlighted through the application of a common type of real option to an actual new multistorey office building project. Based on the DCF model and its negative NPV, the investment under study is not viable. However, when simply considering the delay strategic option, the project turns out to be highly valuable. For comparison reasons, future work is recommended on alternative types of real options, like the compound staging option, and towards the use of alternative ROA tools, like the Monte Carlo Simulation technique, non-recombining binomial lattices, and the dividend-based version of the Black–Scholes model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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23 pages, 3768 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Symbiosis of Architecture with Protected Nature–Kielce and the Świętokrzyskie Region

by Małgorzata Doroz-Turek, Jagoda Juruś, Olga Cicha and Anastasiia Dubyna

Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10557; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310557 - 25 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1484

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to show how a city can develop in symbiosis with its natural environment and protected area, which is in line with the idea of sustainable development. The study examines the role and importance of post-mining land reclamation [...] Read more.

The purpose of the article is to show how a city can develop in symbiosis with its natural environment and protected area, which is in line with the idea of sustainable development. The study examines the role and importance of post-mining land reclamation in restoring the natural values of degraded areas. The authors present the theme of the symbiosis between architecture and unique nature—understood simultaneously as natural and cultural heritage—using the example of the Polish city of Kielce and its surroundings. This is an area rich in green spaces, including protected ones, within and around which urban space is developing and where both historical and contemporary architecture is situated. This study demonstrates that symbiosis, the protection of nature, and cultural heritage are key elements of contemporary design. The city and architecture can thrive in post-mining areas, and the reclamation process, as the research suggests, can catalyse the creation of architecture that is deeply embedded in the landscape, complementing it rather than competing with it. Social surveys conducted for this study indicate that residents of the region recognise and appreciate the need to protect natural resources and integrate architecture with nature, demonstrating the relevance and timeliness of the issues addressed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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20 pages, 9326 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Sustainable Development of Red Cultural Tourism in Yunnan, China, Using GIS and Machine Learning Methods

by Zetong Zhou, Feng Cheng, Siyi Shen, Yechuan Gao, Zhi Li and Jie Wang

Reg. Sci. Environ. Econ. 2025, 2(4), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/rsee2040032 - 13 Oct 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3075

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the accelerated integration of culture and tourism in China, red cultural tourism, as an important component of China’s cultural tourism system, urgently requires a systematic assessment of its development status and synergistic impact mechanisms. This study takes the Long [...] Read more.

Against the backdrop of the accelerated integration of culture and tourism in China, red cultural tourism, as an important component of China’s cultural tourism system, urgently requires a systematic assessment of its development status and synergistic impact mechanisms. This study takes the Long March tourism resources in Yunnan as the research object and constructs a comprehensive evaluation system integrating social influence and ecological carrying capacity. By applying GIS spatial analysis, as well as K-means and XGBoost machine learning models, the development level of red cultural tourism in Yunnan is quantitatively assessed. Furthermore, the interpretable SHAP model is employed to identify the contribution of each evaluation indicator and to analyze the relationships among development levels under three different indicator models. The results reveal that (1) the development level of red cultural tourism in Yunnan generally exhibits a spatial pattern of being lower in the northwest and higher in the southeast; (2) transportation accessibility (TA), average annual precipitation (AAP), and average annual temperature (AAT) are the dominant indicators influencing the development level; (3) there are significant disparities in development levels among cities, indicating that future development needs to comprehensively consider both the social influence and ecological carrying capacity of red cultural tourism resources and adhere to a “social–ecological” synergistic development mechanism. This study not only uncovers the synergistic impacts of social and ecological dimensions on the development of red cultural tourism in Yunnan but also provides theoretical and data support for the optimization and sustainable development of Yunnan’s red cultural tourism resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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23 pages, 6967 KB  

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on the Global Value Chain of Manufacturing

by Guohua Chen, Jianrui Zhou, Cheyuan Liu, Fangzhou Liu, Chunyu Zhang and Yuhan Su

Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 8074; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178074 - 8 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5018

Abstract

Manufacturing global value chains (GVCs) play a central role in shaping countries’ export competitiveness. However, existing studies have given limited attention to the impact of regional trade agreements (RTAs) on manufacturing GVCs. This study examines the effects of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement [...] Read more.

Manufacturing global value chains (GVCs) play a central role in shaping countries’ export competitiveness. However, existing studies have given limited attention to the impact of regional trade agreements (RTAs) on manufacturing GVCs. This study examines the effects of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on manufacturing GVCs. Using the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model, based on the GTAP 10 database with dynamic recursion to 2025, this study simulates various scenarios of tariff and non-tariff barrier (NTB) reductions. This model is linked to a GVC accounting framework to evaluate member countries’ trade performance in manufacturing value added, as well as their participation and position in GVCs. The results show that the CPTPP and RCEP, when implemented separately, significantly boost bilateral value-added trade within their regions, with increases of 99.4% and 65.7%, respectively. Their combined effect further strengthens global value-added trade, raising it by 5.1%. Both agreements also promote greater GVC participation in most manufacturing sectors across member economies, although their influence on sectoral positioning differs across countries. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the CPTPP and RCEP are reshaping regional production networks and affecting manufacturing development in member states. They highlight the growing importance of RTAs in shaping value chains and underscore the need to revitalize global partnerships for sustainable development. For policymakers, the results provide timely evidence on how RTAs can be leveraged to support sustainable growth in manufacturing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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29 pages, 573 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Regional Development Under Demographic Transition: Labor Market Integration and Export Quality Enhancement in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

by Feng Zhang, Jiao Zhang, Wei Xing and Yan Xu

Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 8024; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178024 - 5 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1470

Abstract

It has become a global challenge to realize sustainable regional development in the context of demographic transition. Based on the panel data of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2017 to 2022, this paper analyzes in depth the impact mechanism of labor market integration on [...] Read more.

It has become a global challenge to realize sustainable regional development in the context of demographic transition. Based on the panel data of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2017 to 2022, this paper analyzes in depth the impact mechanism of labor market integration on export quality and its sustainable development effect by using various econometric methods. It is found that labor market integration enhances regional export quality, and every 1% increase in the integration level can bring 0.184% improvement in export quality. Mechanism analysis shows that labor market integration works mainly through two channels: innovation synergy effect (27%) and labor cost effect (8%). Heterogeneity analysis shows that the elasticity coefficients of general trade and high-income nations are 0.155 and 0.208, respectively, but the elasticity coefficients for processing trade, low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income nations are not significant. Furthermore, feature fact analysis reveals that the three regions of Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei have varying degrees of labor market integration: Beijing (0.038) > Tianjin (0.037) > Hebei (0.034); nevertheless, the export product quality gradient is reversed: Beijing (0.617) < Tianjin (0.665) < Hebei (0.669). The evaluation of sustainable development impacts reveals that labor market integration not only mitigates internal labor shortages but also effectively counteracts the external shock of U.S. tariff increases on China. This study provides important theoretical support and policy insights for building a sustainable regional development model in the context of demographic transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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16 pages, 1627 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Smart Cities as a Pathway to Sustainable Urbanism in the Arab World: A Case Analysis of Saudi Cities

by Ali M. Alqahtany

Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041525 - 12 Feb 2025

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 9582

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in Saudi Arabia, fueled by economic growth and population expansion, has created substantial challenges for urban planning, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. In response, smart cities have emerged as a transformative solution, integrating technological innovation with sustainable urban development. While the concept [...] Read more.

Rapid urbanization in Saudi Arabia, fueled by economic growth and population expansion, has created substantial challenges for urban planning, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. In response, smart cities have emerged as a transformative solution, integrating technological innovation with sustainable urban development. While the concept of smart cities has gained global traction, its practical application in Saudi Arabia remains in its early stages. This study investigates the potential of smart cities to tackle Saudi Arabia’s urban challenges, aligning with the objectives of Vision 2030. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines a theoretical analysis of global smart city frameworks with applied research, including field observations and policy analysis of Saudi initiatives. It explores the dynamic relationship between technology, governance, and sustainability, providing a comparative perspective that benchmarks Saudi efforts against international best practices. A central contribution of the study is the development of a multi-dimensional framework designed to advance sustainable smart cities in Saudi Arabia. This framework highlights key pillars such as data-driven governance, environmental resilience, social inclusivity, and economic innovation. By contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development, this research positions Saudi Arabia as a potential regional leader in smart city implementation. Ultimately, the study highlights the transformative potential of smart cities to address global urbanization challenges, fostering resilient, equitable, and sustainable urban environments for future generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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15 pages, 4565 KB  

Open AccessArticle

From Shoreline to Sea: Evaluating Development Suitability Through Coastal Zoning and a Case Study from Shenzhen, China

by Han Yu, Fenghao Zhang, Hongbing Yu and Yu Li

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031204 - 2 Feb 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3804

Abstract

In Shenzhen, as a rapidly developing coastal city, balancing economic activities with ecological protection along the coastline posed significant challenges, particularly during urban expansion and infrastructure construction. This study analyzed coastline zoning, providing valuable lessons for other coastal cities and offering both theoretical [...] Read more.

In Shenzhen, as a rapidly developing coastal city, balancing economic activities with ecological protection along the coastline posed significant challenges, particularly during urban expansion and infrastructure construction. This study analyzed coastline zoning, providing valuable lessons for other coastal cities and offering both theoretical and empirical support for more effective coastal management and sustainable development. The findings showed that the suitability zoning of coastlines revealed no clear spatial distribution trend, with most developed areas demonstrating high utilization efficiency, while unused coastlines had the potential for development. Targeted transformation and secondary development could improve resource efficiency while balancing economic and ecological needs. In conclusion, this research supported sustainable development in coastal cities and provided practical insights for others facing similar challenges in coastal management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Sustainability and Regional Development: Foundations and Challenges for This Symbiotic Relationship)

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