The heterogeneous effects of urbanisation and institutional quality on greenhouse gas emissions in Belt and Road Initiative countries.

The rise of urbanisation in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries that contribute to the disruption of the ecosystem, which would affect global sustainability, is a pressing concern. This study provides new evidence of the impact of urbanisation and institutional quality on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the selected 48 BRI countries from the years 1984 to 2017. The models of this study are inferred by using panel regression model and panel quantile regression model to meet the objectives of our study as it contemplates unobserved country heterogeneity. From the panel regression model, the findings indicate that although urbanisation in BRI supports the 'life effect' hypothesis that could dampen the environment quality, this effect could be reduced through better institutional quality. Using the quantile regression method, this study concludes that one-size-fits-all strategies to reduce GHG emissions in countries with different GHG emissions levels are improbable to achieve success for all. Hence, GHG emissions control procedures should be adjusted differently across high-emission, middle-emission and low-emission countries. Based on these results, this study provides novel intuitions for policymakers to wisely plan the urbanisation blueprints to eradicate unplanned urbanisation and improve institutional quality in meeting pollution mitigation goals.

Productive engagement of older adults in China: A multilevel analysis.

AIM: This study investigates how the personal characteristics and behavior, and health status of older adults in China influenced their productive engagement in paid and unpaid jobs. METHODS: Data for this analysis came from 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). We used a random intercept multilevel multinomial logit model to analyze data from 3208 older adults aged 65 from the 2002 wave, which decreased to 1385 in 2011. The main study variable is older adults' engagement in paid jobs and unpaid work (including housework, care-taking, poultry farming, and planting vegetables that have an economic value). RESULTS: There was a strong association between older adults' productive engagement and their functional limitations to daily living activities, health and healthy behavior. Older adults with inadequate finance were more likely to be working to support themselves. Those who exercised less and living in the provinces with higher GDP were less likely to work post-retirement. Chronic diseases, advances in age, no education and rural residence did not deter older adults from doing unpaid work. CONCLUSION: Older adults in China were actively engaged in paid and unpaid activities. Efforts to support the active engagement of older adults require all stakeholders to promote healthy living, facilitate social engagements and provide an age-friendly work environment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 1138-1146.