Asymmetric effects of fine particulate matter and stringency policy on COVID-19 intensity.

This study aims to examine the influence of environmental performance (PM2.5) on COVID-19 intensity . For this purpose, we employ the newly introduced Hidden Panel Cointegration test and Nonlinear Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag model. Results indicate the asymmetric linkages between PM2.5 and COVID-19 intensity, as the positive shock in PM2.5 raises the COVID-19 intensity by 21%, whereas the negative shock in PM2.5 decreases COVID-19 intensity by 12% in long-run. On the contrary, the positive shock in stringency measures decreases COVID-19 intensity by 42.8%, while the negative shock in stringency policy increases COVID-19 intensity by 66.7%. These findings imply that higher pollution increases the COVID-19 severity while higher stringency measures slow down people's movement and reduce COVID-19 intensity. However, a sudden negative shock in lockdown increases people's interaction, leading to a higher spread of the virus. These results suggest that governments should adopt stringent action plans to contain the transmissibility of COVID-19.

Spatial effect of carbon neutrality target on high-quality economic development-Channel analysis based on total factor productivity.

This study utilizes panel data from 30 provinces in mainland China from 2011 to 2020 to investigate the impact of carbon-neutral development on economic high-quality development by constructing an economic high-quality development index and a carbon-neutral development index. Firstly, the study examines the effects of carbon-neutral development on economic high-quality development using baseline regression and spatial Durbin regression. The results indicate that carbon-neutral development has a positive direct effect on economic high-quality growth, but there are negative spatial spillover effects. Secondly, this study employs total factor productivity (TFP) as an intermediate variable in the mediation model regression. The findings demonstrate that carbon-neutral development significantly improves TFP, and the significant improvement in TFP promotes high-quality economic growth. Lastly, the study conducts regional heterogeneity analysis and finds a significant promoting effect of carbon-neutral development on economic high-quality development in the eastern and central regions of China, while it is not significant in the western region. Therefore, it is recommended that China, in the process of achieving carbon-neutral growth, consider the geographical connections between different regions to prevent negative spillover effects. Additionally, regional heterogeneity should be taken into account when formulating relevant policies to promote economic high-quality development.

The impact of China's digital inclusive financial development gap on the optimization of rural consumption structure.

Implementing the rural revitalization strategy is crucial for ensuring and enhancing the livelihoods of the vast rural population. The upgrading of rural consumption reflects the gradual realization of rural residents' pursuit of a better life, and the rapid development of digital inclusive finance provides strong support for this. Based on the Digital Inclusive Finance Index released by Peking University and panel data from 30 provinces across the country, this study examines the role of digital inclusive finance in optimizing rural consumption structure through the mediation effect model and analyzes its spatial spillover effects using the spatial Durbin model. The research shows that narrowing the development gap in digital inclusive finance is crucial for upgrading the rural consumption structure, which helps to promote rural residents' transition to higher-level consumption. Through the analysis of the spatial Durbin model, this study finds spatial spillover effects in this process, meaning that financial development in a particular region promotes local development but inhibits development in neighboring areas. Among various dimensions, the impact of breadth of coverage is the most significant. This trend of financial development affects consumption structure by increasing agricultural productivity and rural residents' operational income, particularly highlighting its impact on operational income. However, there are significant differences between the eastern and central-western regions in optimizing rural consumption structure, with the eastern region benefiting more while the effects in the central-western region are limited and sometimes even negative. Therefore, regional characteristics should be fully considered in policy formulation to narrow the development gap in digital inclusive finance and achieve high-quality and sustainable development.

How does imported pork regulate the supply and demand of China's pig market during the epidemic?-based on the analysis of African swine fever and COVID-19.

The pig industry is primarily a domestic industry in China is focused on ensuring the domestic pork supply. This paper analyzed changes in Chinese pork imports following the outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and COVID-19 between January 2017 to November 2020 and evaluated the impact of imported pork on the development of the swine industry in China. The results demonstrated that the shortage of domestic pork supply changed the import volume. ASF transformed imported pork from a complementary product to meet the diversified needs of domestic consumers into a critical substitute required to fill the supply gap. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the substitution effect of imported pork decreased. ASF, has caused the supply capacity of pork in China to decrease, the price of pork to increase, leading to increased pork import in January 2019. At the end of 2019, pig slaughter decreased, while China cut tariffs on imported pork. The COVID-19 outbreak did not reduce China's pork imports in China, which declined after the global COVID-19 outbreak. Imported pork has made up for the supply gap during COVID-19, not impacting the level of production of the swine industry in China.