The spatial spillover effects of clean energy consumption and production on sustainable economic development in China.

The massive consumption of fossil energy has resulted in high CO2 emissions, posing a formidable challenge to global sustainable economic development (SED). As countries endeavor to shift from fossil to clean energy sources to achieve SED, research on the impact of clean energy is scarce, and quantitative analysis is lacking. This study measured China's SED and used a spatial econometric model to examine the impact of clean energy consumption and production on SED across 30 provinces in China from 2008 to 2020. Results show that (1) China's SED exhibits significant positive spatial autocorrelation characteristics, forming a "point-to-area" development pattern. (2) Clean energy consumption, production, and consumption structure all contribute to the promotion of SED in the region and have positive spatial spillover effects. (3) A considerable regional disparity exists in the spatial impact of clean energy on SED. The eastern and central regions have significant positive spatial spillover effects, whereas the western region is opposite. Notably, the estimated coefficient of the spatial Durbin model is relatively small, reflecting China's ongoing transition to clean energy and its limited role in promoting economic sustainability. Joint efforts and differentiated policies are essential to develop clean energy and sustainable economic.

Managing urban agglomeration processes in Russia in the context of agglomerative and socio-economic development.

Studies on urban agglomeration typically focus on the management of urban agglomerations as special types of spatial organization. The problem of finding an adequate management model which accounts for the level of spatial connectivity and socio-economic development of a given territory remains in the background. This article identifies urban agglomeration management models in Russia which account for the agglomerative and socio-economic development of a given territory. A methodology for assessing urban agglomeration processes is presented which, unlike existing methodologies, includes an assessment of agglomeration maturity and an assessment of the socio-economic development of urban agglomerations. This methodology is based on conceptual platforms within spatial development theory; new economic geography; and agglomeration theory and cluster development. The methodology was tested on the data of Chelyabinsk Region agglomerations. The study determined that the Chelyabinsk and Gorniy Ural agglomerations are socio-economically developed and highly agglomerated, while the Magnitogorsk agglomeration shows high socio-economic development and low agglomeration. The conurbations are underdeveloped in both areas. The paper gives several recommendations on methods for choosing urban agglomeration management models. The developed methodology can be used to assess agglomerations across Russia and to choose the most adequate management model for a territory depending on its agglomerative and socio-economic development.

Spatial effect of biomass energy consumption on carbon emissions reduction: the role of globalization.

As globalization proceeds, increasing biomass energy consumption is an important pathway to replace fossil fuels for tackling climate change by reducing emissions. This study explores the spatial spillover effect in biomass energy carbon reduction, which is frequently ignored when investigating environmental factors. It uncovers whether globalization and its dimensions can strengthen the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. Besides, we reveal whether biomass energy consumption can promote CO2 emissions reduction while ensuring economic progress. Results show that (1) owing to the spillover effect, biomass energy consumption plays a significant role in direct and indirect enhancing carbon emissions reduction, with their feedback effects of - 0.003 or 3.3% of the direct effect. (2) Increasing overall, social and political globalization enhances biomass energy consumption's carbon reduction effect. (3) In countries with higher economic development, overall, economic and political globalization has a better promotion in the spatial effect of biomass energy carbon reduction. (4) Developing biomass energy can support the environment quality while enhancing economic growth.

Exploring the nexus between economic and environmental issues in the tourism sector at the country level. A replicable framework.

In recent years, the tourism activities take experienced a steady growth in demand, yet it causes ecological damages, such as waste production and carbon dioxide emissions. This paper provides a theoretical framework for testing the interactions among sustainable development and economic growth in the tourism context and demonstrates that sustainability depends on both environmental impacts and some relationships among different factors. In particular, considering some of the key indicators proposed by Agenda 2030 and integrated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the authors focused on the direct influence of tourism to Gross Domestic Product (TGDP), Environmental Performance Indicator (EPI) score, and Carbon Footprint (CF) as indicators that were used together with GDP and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to test five hypotheses and analyze their interactions for a sample country. The results reveal the statistical significance among these indicators in the light of Sustainable Development Goals n. 8, n. 12, and n. 13. Finally, Municipal Solid Waste, the first visible human effect due to tourism, presents a strong interaction with Carbon Footprint.

Health and Economic Growth: Reconciling the Micro and Macro Evidence.

Economists use micro-based and macro-based approaches to assess the macroeconomic return to population health. The macro-based approach tends to yield estimates that are either negative and close to zero or positive and an order of magnitude larger than the range of estimates derived from the micro-based approach. This presents a micro-macro puzzle regarding the macroeconomic return to health. We reconcile the two approaches by controlling for the indirect effects of health on income per capita, which macro-based approaches usually include but micro-based approaches deliberately omit when isolating the direct income effects of health. Our results show that the macroeconomic return to health lies in the range of plausible microeconomic estimates, demonstrating that both approaches are in fact consistent with one another.

Digital economy and carbon emission: The coupling effects of the economy in Qinghai region of China.

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the complex relationship between the digital economy and carbon emissions, fully drawing on essential principles of environmental economics, coupled economics, and sustainable development theory. Focusing on the Qinghai region in the western province of China, the study employs highly sophisticated methods such as multiple regression analysis and system dynamics modeling to reveal the multidimensional coupling effects between digital economy development and carbon emission dynamics. The study's results clearly show that in the Qinghai region of China, the booming growth of the digital economy is related to carbon emissions. Of particular interest, the study finds that this relationship exhibits a high degree of complexity and non-linearity and evolves gradually over time. Initially, the rapid expansion of the digital economy, accompanied by high energy consumption and increased carbon emissions, posed a significant challenge to environmental protection. However, a clear inverted "U"-shaped relationship has emerged as the digital economy evolves. This key inflection point signals a shift in the landscape as the digital economy begins to deliver some ecological benefits, potentially reducing the trend of carbon emissions in the future. The findings of this study go beyond simple causality and reveal a complex and evolving dynamic relationship between the digital economy and carbon emissions. Through such insights, this study provides a solid academic foundation and carefully constructs actionable policy recommendations to drive sustainable development. These insights apply to the Qinghai region of China and provide valuable references and lessons for other areas facing similar challenges.

Investigating the unparalleled effects of economic growth and high-quality economic development on energy insecurity in China: A provincial perspective.

China has changed its focus from traditional high-speed economic growth to high-quality economic development (HQED) and the implementation of environmentally friendly practices. This transition can have parallel or unparallel impacts on energy insecurity (EIS). In this regards, HQED, inter Alia, is crucial in mitigating EIS and combating the energy crisis. Our study explores the impact of economic growth (EG) and HQED on EIS using the provincial panel data of China for the period 2011-2017. From the perspective of comparative analysis, the results reveal that HQED reduces EIS while EG increases it. The robustness checks indicate that industrial structure (IS) has a negative impact on EIS, whereas industrial structure upgrading (ISU) and green innovation (GI) have a positive influence. This implies that IS contributes to an increase in EIS, whereas ISU and GI result in a decrease in EIS. In addition, the analysis reveals that digital financial inclusion (DFI) exhibits a significant positive relation with EIS, albeit occasionally a negative but insignificant link. The policy implication is that the government should stimulate policies to promote HQED which reduces the EIS.

Assessment and analysis of the balance between economic development and ecological environment protection and its implementation strategy derived from spatial planning-Take three heterogeneous and representative provinces in China as an example.

Balancing ecological environment protection (EEP) and economic development (ED) (balance for short) is a difficult problem that must be solved in the development of modern society, particularly important for realizing UN Sustainable Development Goals. How to assess the regional balance situation and reveal the spatial and temporal heterogeneous characteristics of the balance (especially for the vast China) and its influencing factors are the primary scientific problems and realistic needs. Taking Zhejiang, Hunan and Gansu Provinces in the eastern, central and western region of China as a regional representative, an index system characterizing EEP and ED were established, which were processed by extreme difference method and entropy weight method. The coupling characteristics, stress factors and coordination type from 2010 to 2019 in the 3 provinces were assessed and analyzed by means of the coupling coordination model and the grey correlation degree model. Balance is the mission and responsibility of the spatial planning system for spatial planning is of the source, whole-region and comprehensiveness of public strategy, therefore, the balance strategies and its integration approaches are constructed in the 3 provincial spatial planning based on the assessment and analysis of balance characteristics. Research results show that: (1) the 3 provinces' coupling coordination degree is rising year by year, coordination type is more and more better indicating that the balance of EEP and ED is getting better and better, but coordination type differentiates at one level between 3 provinces at the east, central, western region of China, Zhejiang province is from nearby imbalance to primary coordination, Hunan Province is from nearby imbalance to narrow coordination, and Gansu Province is from medium imbalance to nearby imbalance. (2) The ED have same strong stress on EEP in the 3 provinces, and the constraints of EEP on ED are different, the current balance characteristics of Zhejiang, Hunan and Gansu province are the types of ecological environment pressure constraints primary coordination, ecological environment pressure constraints narrow coordination, and ecological environment condition constraints nearby imbalance. (3) The coordination types are the co-environmental pressure constraints primary coordination (Zhejiang Province), eco-environmental pressure constraints narrow coordination (Hunan Province) and eco-environmental condition constraints nearby imbalance (Gansu Province), and corresponding balanced planning strategy system are to promote ecological modernization, implement ecological industrialization and adhere to the ecological fundamentalization.

Mechanism research on digital inclusive finance promoting high-quality economic development: Evidence from China.

This article aims to precisely evaluate the catalytic impact of digital inclusive finance on economic growth, enhance the implementation of policies pertaining to digital inclusive finance, and foster high-quality economic development. Based on China's provincial panel data and the digital inclusive finance index from 2011 to 2021, this research investigates the influence of digital inclusive finance on high-quality economic development and the associated underlying mechanisms. The findings suggest that digital inclusive finance exerts a notable spatial impact on high-quality economic development. Moreover, there is heterogeneity in the spatial effects between different dimensions of digital inclusive finance and high-quality economic development. Through the threshold model and intermediary effect model, it is found that the Internet penetration rate has a dual-threshold effect on the impact of digital inclusive finance on promoting high-quality economic development. Specifically, digital inclusive finance contributes to elevating the level of high-quality economic development through its role in promoting the transformation of consumption structure. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for countries aiming to attain high-quality economic development through the enhancement of digital inclusive finance.

How nutrient retention and TN:TP ratios depend on ecosystem state in thousands of Chinese lakes.

Worldwide, anthropogenic activities threaten surface water quality by aggravating eutrophication and increasing total nitrogen to total phosphorus (TN:TP) ratios. In hydrologically connected systems, water quality management may benefit from in-ecosystem nutrient retention by preventing nutrient transport to downstream systems. However, nutrient retention may also alter TN:TP ratios with unforeseen consequences for downstream water quality. Here, we aim to increase understanding of how nutrient retention may influence nutrient transport to downstream systems to improve long-term water quality management. We analyzed lake ecosystem state, in-lake nutrient retention, and nutrient transport (ratios) for 3482 Chinese lakes using the lake process-based ecosystem model PCLake+. We compared a low climate change and sustainability-, and a high climate change and economy-focused scenario for 2050 against 2012. In both scenarios, the effect of nutrient input reduction outweighs that of temperature rise, resulting in more lakes with good ecological water quality (i.e., macrophyte-dominated) than in 2012. Generally, the sustainability-focused scenario shows a more promising future for water quality than the economy-focused scenario. Nevertheless, most lakes remain phytoplankton-dominated. The shift to more macrophyte-dominated lakes in 2050 is accompanied by higher nutrient retention fractions and less nutrient transport to downstream waterbodies. In-lake nutrient retention also alters the water's TN:TP ratio, depending on the inflow TN:TP ratio and the ecosystem state. In 2050 higher TN:TP ratios are expected in the outflows of lakes than in 2012, especially for the sustainability-focused scenario with strong TP loading reduction. However, the downstream impact of increased TN:TP ratios depends on actual nutrient loadings and the limiting nutrient in the receiving system. We conclude that nutrient input reductions, improved water quality, higher in-lake nutrient retention fractions, and lower nutrient transport to downstream waterbodies go hand in hand. Therefore, water quality management could benefit even more from nutrient pollution reduction than one would expect at first sight.

The nexus among CO2 emission, health expenditure and economic development in the OECD countries: New insights from a cross-sectional ARDL model.

To find a way to realize sustainable development, this paper applied a cross-sectional ARDL (CS-ARDL) method to explore the interaction between carbon emissions, economic development, and health care expenditure for OECD countries. Firstly, we conduct a cross-sectional test to check whether the data is confronted with this issue. Secondly, we conduct a panel unit root test and cointegration test to confirm whether the ARDL-based method is suitable for our data. Thirdly, we analyze the results and provide possible explanations. Lastly, we conduct a short-term causality test to detect the connection between different variables. The main conclusion of our study includes: 1) Health care is a necessity in OECD countries. 2) Environmental deterioration places a heavy burden on health care expenditure in OECD countries. 3) Health care expenditure of last year negatively affects health care expenditure. 4) There is a short-run causality relationship from CO2, economic development, and dependency rate of youth to health care expenditure in OECD countries. Related policy proposals are provided according to our analysis of the results.

Regional sources of NH3, SO2 and CO in the Third Pole.

The Third Pole (TP) is a high mountain region in the world, and is well-known for its pristine environment, but recent development activities in the region have degraded its air quality. Here, we investigate the spatial and temporal changes of the air pollutants ammonia (NH3), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) in TP, and reveal their sources using satellite measurements and emission inventory. We observe a clear seasonal cycle of NH3 in TP, with high values in summer and low values in winter. The intense agriculture activities in the southern TP are the cause of high NH3 (6-8 × 1016 molec./cm2) there. Similarly, CO shows a distinct seasonal cycle with high values in spring in the southeast TP due to biomass burning. In addition, the eastern boundary of TP in the Sichuan and Qinghai provinces also show high values of CO (about 1.5 × 1018 mol/cm2), primarily owing to the industrial activities. There is no seasonal cycle found for SO2 distribution in TP, but relatively high values (8-10 mg/m2) are observed in its eastern boundary. The high-altitude pristine regions of inner TP are also getting polluted because of increased human activities in and around TP, as we estimate positive trends in CO (0.5-1.5 × 1016 mol/cm2/yr) there. In addition, positive trends are also found in NH3 (0.025 × 1016 molec./cm2/yr) during 2008-2020 in most regions of TP and SO2 (about 0.25-0.75 mg/m2/yr) in the Sichuan and Qinghai region during 2000-2020. As revealed by the emission inventory, there are high anthropogenic emissions of NH3, SO2 and CO within TP. There are emissions of pollutants from energy sectors, oil and refinery, agriculture waste burning and manure management within TP. These anthropogenic activities accelerate the ongoing development in TP, but severely erode its environment.

The spatial correlation network structure and its formation mechanism of urban high-quality economic development: a comparative analysis from the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin in China.

In the context of regional integration, it is more than crucial to compare and analyze the spatial correlation network structure and formation mechanism of high-quality economic development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin urban cities as an attempt to strengthen collaborative work on high-quality economic development in both river basins. The paper measured high-quality economic development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin from 2010 to 2021. Then, it employed social network analysis and the QAP method to study the network structure's characteristics and formation mechanism. The conclusion of the research illustrates a few points clearly that first, the high-quality economic development of the two rivers presents a complex and multithreaded network structure. Although the network structure is hold at a comparatively stable state, the correlation degree needs improvement. Second, cities such as Chongqing, Wuhan, Hefei, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Changsha and cities like Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Luoyang, Yulin, Hulunbuir, Ordos, and Nanyang are at the very central as well as central position of the network. The spatial correlation networks of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin can be divided into four plates: "agent plate," "main outflow plate," "bidirectional spillover plate," and "main inflow plate." Third, reverse geographical distance and differences in the digital economy attach great significance to the spatial correlation networks of the two basins. The difference in urbanization level makes significant impacts only on the spatial correlation network of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, while the difference in environmental regulation and material capital accumulation only significantly influences the spatial correlation network of the Yellow River Basin.

Sustainable energy changeover in Pakistan: prospects, progress, and policies.

Fossil fuels will still dominate energy in twenty years despite green power rising. The aim of the study is to analyze the factor substitution, emission mitigation, and technological progress among energy and non-energy inputs in Pakistan. The trans-log production method is employed to analyze the viability of energy substitution and then measure the CO2 emission reduction possibility that comes from such adoption. The results suggest the following: (1) the influence of renewable energy and nonrenewable energy on economic growth is optimistic and is increasing return to scale. However, it has the potential to contribute a 7% growth-share if capital investment is doubled beyond the present levels. (2) Output elasticity between renewable and nonrenewable energy factors is elastic and, on average, is estimated by 0.096 and 1.007. (3) Energy substitution is possible with an average of 0.852, which presents that Pakistan has the capability of moving from nonrenewable energy to renewable energy. (4) Two investment scenarios show significant results and suggest that nonrenewable energy substitution for renewable energy has the potential to lessen CO2 emissions without reducing the economy. Finally, energy substitution is possible from technical perspectives and inputs show strong convergence differences in technical progress. Comprehensive capital growth, technological progress, and low-carbon technological efforts can be a better fit for attaining carbon-reduction and sustainable economic growth.

How economic development affects healthcare access for people with disabilities: A multilevel study in China.

Meeting the healthcare needs of people with disabilities is an important challenge in achieving the central promise of "leave no one behind" during the Sustainable Development Goals era. In this study, we describe the accessibility of healthcare for people living with disabilities, as well as the potential influences of individuals' socioeconomic status and regional economic development. Our data covered 324 prefectural cities in China in 2019 and captured the access to healthcare services for people with disabilities. First, we used linear probability regression models to investigate the association between individual socioeconomic status, including residence, poverty status, education, and healthcare access. Second, we conducted an ecological analysis to test the association between prefectural economic indicators, including GDP (gross domestic product) per capita, urbanization ratio, average years of education, Engel's coefficient, and the overall prevalence of access to healthcare for people with disabilities within prefectures. Third, we used multilevel regression models to explore the association between the individual's socio-economic status, prefectural economic indicators, and access to healthcare at the individual level for people with disabilities. The results showed, first, that higher individual socioeconomic status (urban residence or higher educational level) was associated with better access to healthcare for people with disabilities. Second, regional economic indicators were positively associated with access to healthcare at the aggregate and individual levels. This study suggests that local governments, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, should promote economic development and conduct poverty alleviation policies to improve healthcare access for disadvantaged groups.

The impact of clean energy demonstration province policies on carbon intensity in Chinese counties based on the multi-phase PSM-DID method.

Based on China's empirical data from 2000 to 2020 of 1875 county-level administrative units, combined with the multi-phase by the propensity score matching and difference-in-difference (PSM-DID) model, this paper studies the impact of clean energy demonstration province policies on the carbon intensity of pilot counties, and its further impact on carbon emissions and economic development level. The results showed that 1. from a county-level perspective, although the economic development level of the pilot areas of clean energy demonstration provinces has improved as the carbon emissions have also increased, what is more, the carbon intensity has also significantly improved in this process; 2. there is no time lag in the impact of policies on the carbon intensity of counties, and the impact effects gradually increase over time along with strong regional heterogeneity; 3. the clean energy demonstration policy has weakened the technological level of the county and reduced the proportion of industrial-added value to GDP, thereby increasing the carbon intensity of the county through these intermediaries.

Impact of economic development on soil trace metal(loid)s pollution: A case study of China.

Recently, intensive anthropogenic activities, while promoting economic growth, have also exacerbated soil trace metal(loid) (TM) pollution. To explore the impact of economic development on soil TM pollution, a time-weighted method was introduced to calculate the average concentrations of eight TMs in Chinese topsoil from 2001 to 2020, and panel data on TMs and economic factors of 31 provinces were used for regression analysis. The results revealed that the average concentrations of soil TMs all exceeded their respective soil background values. Meanwhile, the spatial distribution of soil TMs was characterized by obvious regional heterogeneity, with economically developed areas being heavily polluted and having high ecological risks. In addition, the results derived from panel data models showed that the relationship between soil TM pollution and economic development in China presented a continuous growth curve, but with an N-shaped pattern in eastern China, a U-shaped pattern in central China, and a positive linearity in western China. Four control variables were also introduced to evaluate their impact on TM pollution, and the results indicated that the proportion of secondary industry and the road area per capita were the major influencing factors. Ultimately, the inflection point estimation results suggested that the soil TM pollution level will increase in eastern China, central China and western China with ongoing economic growth. Our findings contribute to the current understanding of the relationship between soil TM pollution and anthropogenic activities, and provide a scientific basis for adjusting and planning industrial development and layout according to the characteristics of soil TM pollution.

Scoping review on the link between economic growth, decent work, and early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent chronic non-communicable disease that affects millions of young children globally, with profound implications for their well-being and oral health. This paper explores the associations between ECC and the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8). METHODS: The scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. In July 2023, a search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using tailored search terms related to economic growth, decent work sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and efforts to eradicate forced labor, slavery, and human trafficking and ECC all of which are the targets of the SDG8. Only English language publications, and publications that were analytical in design were included. Studies that solely examined ECC prevalence without reference to SDG8 goals were excluded. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 761 articles. After removing duplicates and ineligible manuscripts, 84 were screened. However, none of the identified studies provided data on the association between decent work, economic growth-related factors, and ECC. CONCLUSIONS: This scoping review found no English publication on the associations between SDG8 and ECC despite the plausibility for this link. This data gap can hinder policymaking and resource allocation for oral health programs. Further research should explore the complex relationship between economic growth, decent work and ECC to provide additional evidence for better policy formulation and ECC control globally.

The impact of digital empowerment on the economic openness of the textile industry in Keqiao based on a sustainable environment.

Based on the framework theory of industrial digitization, digital industrialization, digital governance and digital value-added in a sustainable environment, this paper systematically studies the relevant elements of governance and value distribution in the sustainable environment of global trade, and its impact on the development path of human beings. This paper explores the way to embed digital technology into the global value chain to realize digital empowerment, measures the competitiveness index of Keqiao's textile industry in the global value chain, analyzes the technical and environmental challenges faced by China's textile industry in the digital age, and proposes the corresponding countermeasures to deal with the impact of global value chain participation and to improve the international competitiveness of China's textile industry.

Population agglomeration in Chinese cities: is it benefit or damage for the quality of economic development?

This paper explores the impact of population agglomeration on urban economic development quality in various cities of China. The results show that population agglomeration significantly contributes to the improvement of urban green total factor productivity by increasing population diversification, promoting knowledge spillovers, and reducing pollution emission intensity. Moreover, we find that population agglomeration in type II big cities and type I large cities significantly improves green total factor productivity, while the impact of population agglomeration in metropolises and mega-cities on green total factor productivity is not significant. On the one hand, type II big cities and type I large cities are in the period of rising economic development, the population has not yet reached saturation, and there is still a large demographic dividend space. On the other hand, excessive population agglomeration also brings about "urban diseases" such as population congestion and traffic congestion, especially in the metropolises and mega-cities. Finally, using data on producer services and its sub-sectors, we identify a more significant driving effect of high-end talent agglomeration on green total factor productivity.