External supply risk of agricultural products trade along the Belt and Road under the background of COVID-19.

Agricultural product trade along the Belt and Road (B&R) is an important part of the international food security system, the vulnerabilities of which have been highlighted by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the complex network analysis, this study analyzes the characteristics of agricultural products trade network along the B&R. It also combines the effects of COVID-19 with the import trade volume of agricultural products in countries along the B&R to build a risk supply model of agricultural products. The results show that: (1) In 2021, the spatial correlation structure of agricultural products trade along the B&R became increasingly sparse, and the network connectivity and density also decreased. (2) The network showed obvious scale-free distribution characteristics and obvious heterogeneity. Five communities emerged under the influence of the core node countries, but the formation of community in 2021 had obvious geopolitical characteristics. (3) Under the influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, the number of countries with medium-risk and high-risk level along the route facing external dependence risk (REDI), import concentration risk (RHHI) and COVID-19 epidemic risk (RRICI) increased in 2021, and the number of countries with extremely low-risk level decreased. (4) The dominant risk type of external supply of agricultural products along the route changed from compound risk type in 2019 to epidemic risk in 2021. Hence, the results can be expected to prevent external risk impact from reducing excessive concentration of agricultural products trade and excessive dependence on the external market.

Development of rural tourism in China: The tragedy of anti-commons.

The development of rural tourism presents the complexity of the industry, environment, governance, and coordination structure. In tourism development, due to the high dispersion and fragmentation of property rights of the resource objects themselves, as well as the involvement of many "atomic" property rights and other stakeholders, coupled with the lack of strong organization and leadership, the full development and utilization of rich tourism resources in rural areas is becoming problematic. It is difficult to realize the "rental value" of tourism resources, which leads to the tragedy of anti-commons. Taking the case of China, this paper explores the occurrence of anti-commons tragedy in the development of rural tourism, identifies the problems caused by the tragic governance of the anti-commons in the current environmental development, and further examines the governance path of the anti-commons tragedy in the tourism sector. The purpose of the study is to optimize the development environment of rural tourism and build a healthy space suitable for industry, residence, and tourism.

Does the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy Promote Green Technology Innovation? Based on Green Patent Data of Chinese A-Share Listed Companies.

To cope with climate change and achieve sustainable development, low-carbon city pilot policies have been implemented. An objective assessment of the performance of these policies facilitates not only the implementation of relevant work in pilot areas, but also the further promotion of these policies. This study uses A-share listed enterprises from 2005 to 2019 and creates a multi-period difference-in-differences model to explore the impact of low-carbon city pilot policies on corporate green technology innovation from multiple dimensions. Results show that (1) low-carbon city pilot policies stimulates the green technological innovation of enterprises as manifested in their application of green invention patents; (2) the introduction of pilot policies is highly conducive to green technological innovation in eastern cities and enterprises in high-carbon emission industries; and (3) tax incentives and government subsidies are important fiscal and taxation tools that play the role of pilot policies in low-carbon cities. By alleviating corporate financing constraints, these policies effectively promote the green technological innovation of enterprises. This study expands the research on the performance of low-carbon city pilot policies and provides data support for a follow-up implementation and promotion of policies from the micro perspective at the enterprise level.

Does Coastal Local Government Competition Increase Coastal Water Pollution? Evidence from China.

China has formulated many policies and regulations for the management of the coastal water environment. However, the coastal water environment has not been significantly improved. The perspective of local government competition can provide an explanation for this phenomenon. This study uses panel data comprising 48 coastal cities in China from 2004 to 2017 as bases explore the impact of coastal local government competition on coastal water pollution by using a two-way fixed-effects panel regression model. Results show that coastal local government competition increased coastal water pollution. However, a sub-sample estimation based on fiscal pressure shows that coastal local government competition only increased the coastal water pollution of the high fiscal pressure group, and its impact on the coastal water pollution in the low financial pressure group failed to pass the significance test. In addition, sub-sample estimation based on different periods shows that the impact of coastal local government competition on coastal water pollution was not significant before 2008, but showed a significant positive impact after 2008.

Provincial Differences and Dynamic Changes in Mariculture Efficiency in China: Based on Super-SBM Model and Global Malmquist Index.

The continued growth in mariculture efficiency in China is vital in ensuring that the country will continue to be the primary source of its own food in the 21st century. A large gap exists between the input and output of mariculture in China's coastal provinces. Hence, methods to improve mariculture efficiency can be developed by analyzing provincial differences and dynamic changes in mariculture efficiency. These methods are important in solving China's food security problems. This study uses the super-slacks-based measure model and global Malmquist index to measure the mariculture efficiency scores and their changes in China's nine coastal provinces from 2004 to 2016. Results suggest that the mariculture efficiencies in Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, Shandong, and Guangdong are higher than those in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Liaoning, and Hebei. The mariculture efficiency in China increased by 6.45% from 2004 to 2016, and technological progress was the main driving force for this. The authors combine the results with the mariculture characteristics in each province and present the following findings: (1) mariculture scale affects mariculture efficiency; (2) efficient mariculture relies on a good marine ecosystem; (3) policy adjustments significantly affect the development of mariculture; (4) the key to improving mariculture efficiency is enhancing mariculture technology.

Livelihood Vulnerability of Marine Fishermen to Multi-Stresses under the Vessel Buyback and Fishermen Transfer Programs in China: The Case of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province.

In the context of vessel buyback and fishermen transfer, some traditional marine fishermen changed their profession and turned to other related industries such as mariculture, fish processing, and recreational fishery. Studying the livelihood vulnerability of different types of fishermen is an important basis to help fishermen rebuild sustainable livelihoods. This paper developed a framework of a fishermen's livelihood vulnerability assessment under multi-stresses, and then conducted an empirical analysis based on a survey in Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China. Finally, the determinants of livelihood vulnerability were analyzed by a regression tree model. Results showed that fishermen with a high level of vulnerability accounted for about 37.35%, and they had some unique characteristics such as advanced age, low education levels. Although converted fishermen faced fewer exposure risks than non-converted fishermen, they eventually showed higher vulnerability due to poor adaptive ability. The livelihood vulnerability of fishermen engaged in recreational fisheries was relatively low, while that of fishermen engaged in non-fisheries was quite different from each other. The results of the regression tree analysis showed that the number of household income sources, whether they converted or not, impacts of disturbances, and whether they were equipped with fishery facilities could influence the fishermen's livelihood vulnerability. The government should pay more attention to the fishermen whose family income source was single, and the converted fishermen whose productive physical capital was scare.