Ecological Economic Efficiency Research Articles

What Is the State of Development of Eco-Wellbeing Performance in China? An Analysis from a Three-Stage Network Perspective

After rapid development in recent decades, China has laid a strong economic foundation and established material conditions. Despite this, the country still confronts a range of challenges that impede higher-quality economic and social development. To measure high-quality regional development, eco-wellbeing performance (EWP) has become an important tool that seeks to strike a balance between economic development, human wellbeing, and environmental protection. This paper proposes a three-stage network efficiency evaluation model to decompose EWP into three stages, namely ecological economic efficiency (EEE), economic innovation efficiency (EIE), and innovation wellbeing efficiency (IWE). A directional distance function (DDF) model was utilized to assess the overall EWP efficiency and phase-in efficiency for 248 cities over the period from 2016 to 2020. The study results indicate that EWP in China is generally low. In terms of the three sub-stages of EWP, the first stage performs optimally, the third stage performs the second best, and the second stage is the worst. The research suggests that the principal reason for the generally low EWP may be linked to the efficiency of the transformation of economic investments into innovative outcomes in the second stage. From a regional viewpoint, EWP generally shows a gradually decreasing trend from the east, central, and west to the northeast, but the stage performance varies among regions. The eastern region has lower EEE, but both EIE and IWE perform better than the national average; the central region is well-balanced between the three stages; the western region leads the country in EEE, but lags in both EIE and IWE; and the northeast region has inferior performance in all stages. This study’s findings provide vital reference values for policy-makers to determine key points for enhancing EWP in different regions of China.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Ecological Well-Being Performance from the Perspective of Strong Sustainability: A Case Study of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China.

The concept of strong sustainability suggests that natural capital is irreplaceable and emphasizes that human natural consumption cannot exceed the carrying capacity of the ecological environment. In the realistic context of tightening resource constraints and ecological degradation, how to explore the optimal economic and well-being output under certain ecological constraints has become an important topic in sustainability research. Ecological well-being performance (EWP) can comprehensively reflect the efficiency of natural resources and ecological inputs into the well-being level and has become an important tool for sustainable development research. Based on strong sustainability, this paper constructs an EWP evaluation index system. It decomposes EWP into two stages: ecological economy and economic well-being, which opens the "black box" of the ecological well-being conversion process. PCA-DEA, the network super-efficiency Epsilon-based measure (Network SEBM) model, and Geodetector are used to dynamically measure the EWP in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) from 2010 to 2020 and analyze its spatial and temporal characteristics and influencing factors. The results show that (1) temporally, the EWP in the TGRA shows an increasing trend from 2010 to 2020, but the overall level is low. Spatially, it shows a high pattern in the east and low in the west, and spatial differences are gradually decreasing; (2) ecological economic efficiency is significantly lower than economic well-being efficiency, and ecological economic efficiency is the main reason limiting the improvement in EWP in the TGRA. The ecological well-being situation of the TGRA is not optimistic; (3) there is an overall problem of excessive ecological input and insufficient per-capita GDP and well-being output in the TGRA, and decisions should be made according to local conditions; (4) the level of economic development has an EWP level that plays a dominant role and also has a greater relationship with the policy system, socioeconomic conditions, and natural environment.

Ecological Well-Being Performance Evaluation and Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Urban Agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin

The urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin are important carriers for China’s high-quality development. It is an inevitable trend to promote sustainable development and people’s well-being in the urban agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin. A case study of 70 cities of seven urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin from 2011 to 2017 is presented. The two-stage super-efficiency network slacks-based measure (Super-NSBM) model considering undesirable outputs is adopted to measure the ecological well-being performance (EWP), and the spatial correlation analysis method is used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics of the EWP. The results show that the average EWP of the seven urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin was less than 1, showing a trend of firstly rising and then slowly decreasing. The average EWP presents the distribution pattern of the highest in the middle reaches, followed by the upper reaches, and the lowest in the lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin, respectively. The average ecological economic efficiency in the first stage of urban agglomerations of the Yellow River Basin was greater than the average economic well-being efficiency in the second stage. The average EWP in the Yellow River Basin shows local spatial heterogeneity during the study period. Policy measures are proposed to promote the improvement of the EWP of urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin. This study can provide reference for the policy formulation of high-quality green development and sustainable construction of urban agglomeration in the Yellow River Basin.

Ecological Well-Being Performance Evaluation of Chinese Major Node Cities along the Belt and Road

Under the constraints of resources and the environment, improving the urban ecological well-being performance (EWP) is a fundamental requirement and inevitable choice for urban ecological civilization construction and sustainable development. In this paper, 36 Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road were selected as the research area, and an EWP evaluation index system was constructed. The two-stage Super Network Slack-based measure (Super-NSBM) model was used to evaluate the static EWP from 2011 to 2018, and the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index was used to evaluate the dynamic EWP. It was found that: (1) The EWP value of 36 Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road from 2011 to 2018 did not reach effectiveness, with Sanya, Shenzhen, and Haikou being the top three performers. (2) In terms of two-stage efficiency, the ecological economic efficiency in the first stage was significantly lower than the economic well-being efficiency in the second stage, which indicated that the low ecological economic efficiency was the main reason for the low average value of the EWP. (3) From the dynamic analysis results, the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index experienced a fluctuating upward trend, and the technical change was the main factor for the improvement in the EWP. Finally, policy recommendations were proposed based on the above findings. This study will contribute to the sustainable development of Chinese major node cities along the Belt and Road, and can provide a reference for other Belt and Road regions.

Comparison for ecological economic performance of Chinese sea perch (Lateolabrax Maculatus) under different aquaculture systems

Chinese sea perch (Lateolabrax Maculatus) is one of the main marine fish culture species in China, its green development has received increasing attention and its ecological economic study is rare. Based on field survey, this paper takes water pollution tax of China as conversion indicator for aquaculture eutrophication to simulate aquaculture waste fee for further analyzing the ecological impact of Chinese sea perch's aquaculture. For data analysis, data envelopment analysis model has been used. The comparison for Chinese sea perch's economic performance and ecological economic performance under its main aquaculture systems has been done. The results show that: 1. The simulated waste fee has no significant impact for the comparison. 2. Ranking for ecological economic performance's ecological economic, technical and scale efficiency is as follow: pond farming, offshore cage culture and cage culture. 3. Offshore cage culture is the only system presenting positive increase for ecological economic performance, which makes its aquaculture activity more sustainable than other systems. 4. The key point of green development is to maximize the ecological economic efficiency of main aquaculture systems. Thus, offshore cage culture is the most sustainable aquaculture system among China's current marine fish culture systems, and other systems need innovation for achieving the green development of China's aquaculture.

Two-Stage Super-Efficiency Slacks-Based Model to Assess China's Ecological Wellbeing.

As industrialization and urbanization in China have significantly increased ecological problems such as environmental pollution and resource waste, it has become important to be able to comprehensively assess ecological wellbeing performance (EWP) when seeking high-quality human wellbeing and economic growth within specific ecological limits. Therefore, to explore the EWP spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, this paper established an evaluation index system that considers ecological economic efficiency and economic welfare efficiency from input and output perspectives. The EWPs in 30 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) from 2006 to 2017 were then measured using a two-stage super-efficiency slacks-based model (Super-SBM) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) window analysis method. It was found that: (1) the average EWP value in the Chinese provinces was relatively low at 0.698, with the highest EWP in Beijing, Hainan, and Shanghai and the lowest in Xinjiang, Ningxia, and Qinghai; (2) the average provincial EWP fluctuated from 2006 to 2017 with a “decline-rise-decline-rise” feature; (3) China’s EWP value was spatially supported by the quadrangular “Beijing-Shanghai-Hainan-Sichuan” pole and continued to radiate to areas along these lines. These research findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications for regional ecological protection and human welfare improvements in China.

Ecological and economic efficiency of green manure in crop rotation on irrigated lands in the south of Ukraine

One of the ways to solve the problem of preserving soil fertility is the use of special soil protection measures and scientifically proven technologies. The main measures to increase crop productivity, preserve soil fertility and improve ecological state of the environment are the primary tillage and fertilization systems in modern high-intensity farming systems with scientifically proven methods, techniques, and depth of loosening, as well as doses of mineral and organic fertilizers. The article presents the results of experimental studies of changes in the humus reserves in the arable layer of the soil under the influence of longterm use of differentiated systems of primary tillage, in which different methods and depth of the primary tillage alternate during crop rotation, different depth (23–25 cm and 28–30 cm) subsurface chisel tillage, single-depth shallow (12–14 cm) disk and zero tillage, against the background of the fertilizer system using post-harvest green manure. The research was conducted during 2015–2019 on the irrigated lands of the Askaniya State Agricultural Research Station of the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture of NAAS, in the area of the Kakhovka irrigation system, in a fourfield row crop rotation with successive crop rotation of the following: soybean, winter wheat + mustard (postharvest for green manure), corn for grain, winter barley + mustard (postharvest for green manure). The soil of the experimental field is dark chestnut, slightly saline, medium loamy. Based on data from field, laboratory and analytical studies, it is established that in short-term row crops rotation on irrigated lands of southern Ukraine an effective measure to increase the fertility of dark chestnut soils is organic-mineral fertilizer systems with a mineral fertilizer dose of N120P40 (per hectare of crop rotation area), the use of spring mustard as fertilizer in post-harvest crops as well as the use of all by-products of crop rotation. Differentiated and different-depth subsurface systems of primary tillage against the background of organicmineral fertilization system provide productivity of short-term crop rotation at the level of 7.77 and 8.09 t/ha of grain units respectively, increase of humus by 1.25 and 1.33 t/ha, and total ecological economic efficiency of crop rotation operation by 61.50 and 64.63 thousand UAH/ha.

Еколого-економічна ефективність зрошувальних проєктів у контексті змін клімату

Мета. Мета статті полягає в презентації результатів дослідження щодо оцінювання еколого-економічної ефективності реалізації меліоративних проєктів з урахуванням якості зрошувальної води (на прикладі конкретних проєктів у ґрунтово-кліматичних умовах Харківської та Донецької областей). Методологія / методика / підхід. Методологія проведеного дослідження ґрунтується на використанні міждисциплінарного підходу. У процесі дослідження використано такі методи: монографічний (для узагальнення методологічного та практичного досвіду застосування зрошувальних проєктів); лабораторно-аналітичний (для визначення показників якості зрошувальної води); конструктивно-розрахунковий (під час обчислення показників економічної ефективності приросту врожайності в умовах зрошення); метод Монте-Карло (для імітаційного моделювання врожайності сільськогосподарських культур без зрошення та в умовах зрошення); статистичний (дисперсійний аналіз) (для оцінювання достовірності отриманих результатів); узагальнення (для підведення проміжних і загальних підсумків еколого-економічного аналізу експериментальних і модельних даних). Результати. У результаті лабораторного аналізу здійснено оцінку якості води, яка може бути використана для зрошення. Обґрунтовано переваги проєкту організації виробництва аграрної продукції в умовах краплинного зрошення, оцінено інвестиційну привабливість цього проєкту. Доведено, що застосування краплинного зрошення сприяє зростанню не лише економічного ефекту, а й адаптації до зміни клімату. Здійснено оцінку економічної ефективності застосування зрошення в землеробстві, зокрема обмежено придатною водою, під час вирощування різних сільськогосподарських культур. З огляду на економічну оцінку, вирощування більшості сільськогосподарських культур в умовах зрошення обмежено придатною водою виявилося малоефективним. Оригінальність / наукова новизна. Наукова новизна роботи полягає в тому, що дістали дальшого розвитку положення щодо еколого-економічної ефективності застосування меліоративних проєктів з урахуванням якості зрошувальної води. Це одна з перших публікацій, що присвячена економічному управлінню зрошувальними проєктами в аграрному виробництві України в контексті змін клімату. Практична цінність / значущість. Результати дослідження дозволяють зробити висновки щодо ефективності впровадження проєктів краплинного зрошення, ураховуючи можливі економічні ризики та очікувані вигоди. Результати імітаційного моделювання врожайності сільськогосподарських культур в умовах зрошення можуть бути використані аграрними підприємствами для управління проєктними ризиками.

Assessment of Solar Energy Potential and Its Ecological-Economic Efficiency: Azerbaijan Case

The paper investigates resource, technical, economic and market potential of solar energy and its ecology and economic efficiency in Azerbaijan. The authors have distinguished six regions in the territory of Azerbaijan with different levels of solar radiation. The resource potential of the regions is calculated by the AutoCad program. As well, technical and economic potential was calculated by special methodology. The authors concluded that Azerbaijan has so much solar energy resource potential and it is possible to replace traditional carbon types of energy with solar energy, even by using the modern technical equipment. However, it is impossible because of economic disadvantages and very low electricity prices. The price of 1 kWh electricity from carbon fuels is several times cheaper than 1 kWh electricity from solar energy. That is why it is difficult to attract investments to develop solar power. There is a necessity to develop a new electricity price policy to stimulate attractiveness of solar power for households and industry.

HIGH TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE IN THE DELTA OF THE RED RIVER IN VIETNAM IN THE CONDITIONS OF INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT

The problems of the development of high-tech agriculture of Vietnam in the delta of the Red river in the conditions of innovative development have been considered. The current status of the development of high-tech agriculture and some models of the application of high-tech agricultural production in some areas of Vietnam have been presented. The influence of high-tech development of agriculture on the ecological-economic efficiency of agricultural lands of Vietnam in the delta of the Red river has been determined, the main obstacles to the development of high-tech agriculture at the present time have been highlighted. The ways of development of high-tech agriculture in Vietnam in terms of innovative development have been designated.

Dynamic Problems of Estimation of Ecological-Economic Efficiency of Regions Based on Basic Models of Data Envelopment Analysis

The paper describes the results of the comparative analysis of the applicability of several methods for solving dynamic DEA-models to the problem of monitoring of the ecological and economic efficiency of economic activities of regional economic systems (on the example of the regions of the Central Federal District). The method of forming time series based on point estimates of environmental and economic efficiency the Malmquist method and the window method is considered. The results obtained for different window widths are analyzed for stability and adequacy. A comparison of the obtained results allows us to conclude that the window method is uniquely preferable for solving problems of monitoring the ecological and economic efficiency of regions not only from a computational but also from a substantive point of view.

Enhancing ecological-economic efficiency of intensive shrimp farm through in-out nutrient budget and feed conversion ratio

In aquaculture systems, insufficient nutrients impede shrimp growth while excessive amounts of nutrient inputs lead to environmental degradation and unnecessary high investment. A study of in-out nutrient budgets in an intensive Litopenaeus vannamei farm was conducted in this work to measure the amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) input and output from the system. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) was obtained to determine the level of nutrient input performance. Between September and December 2017, monthly water and sediment samples were taken within one crop cycle. Nutrient concentrations in sediment and water increased over 90 days. The total nitrogen concentration in the pond water and effluents were in accordance with wastewater quality control for aquaculture; however, the total phosphorus concentration failed to meet the water quality control from the water input through the end of the crop cycle. The nutrient budget model showed that the input/output contained 107.8 kg N and 178.4 kg P. Most of the N input came from shrimp diets (80%) while most of the P came from fertilizer (57%). Both N (46%) and P (54%) mainly deposited in the sediment as an output process. The FCR of this farm is 2.0. Based on the 1.8 FCR scenario, this farm could reduce 147 kg of feed in total, which accounts for 9.04 kg N and 2.21 kg P reduction. The farmer could save $1027 USD crop− 1 ($1 USD = 32.7 baht), as well as reducing uneaten food at the bottom of the pond. This study offers a simple and straightforward model that can practically reduce environmental impacts and increase the profitability of farms.

Problems of regulation of transport and logistics processes of responsible waste management in Ukraine

Introduction. Control of waste management is a complex process that involves organizational-economic and economic-environmental components that are directly or indirectly related to the production and consumption of products, supply of raw materials, natural resources, related information and financial flows, etc. Transport and logistics occupy a special place among them, because of the specifics of waste as an object of management, as well as related issues of environmental pollution and the impact on the health of the population. Transport-logistics approaches are needed to allow the use of appropriate management levers and instruments aimed at solving a complex issue when production and associated material flows are considered in close connection with the movement of waste generated during production and consumption.
 Aim and tasks. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the conceptual approach to the management of transport-logistics processes in the field of responsible waste management on the basis of analysis of economic-ecological and organizational issues, and prospects of its development in Ukraine.
 Results. As a result of the research, it has been determined that reversible logistics is a means of achieving positive ecological-economic efficiency, the feasibility of which, first and foremost, of the transport component is confirmed by the fact that in the long run, Ukraine can significantly reduce the level of environmental pollution caused by the formation and placement of waste, but the volume of emissions in the transport sector will increase. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the role of goal-setting functions and coordination of actions in the field of waste management; the main goal at the same time is to increase the ecological-economic efficiency of processes associated with transportation, as well as sorting, storage and disposal of household and industrial waste. This principle is the basis for integrating transport-logistics operations into a waste management system, the main elements of which are management functions and associated environmental-economic instruments for influencing waste management processes. The subsystem of ecological management within the framework of the waste management system, in particular, its transport-logistic component, which forms the ecological policy at micro and macro levels, deserves special attention; and is an effective instrument for implementing the concept of motivated liability.
 Conclusions. In the field of waste management, one of the top priorities is the task of increasing the role of transport logistics. Solving the problem of managing transport-logistics processes of responsible waste management is seen in two aspects: integration of the transport-logistics system into the waste management system at the territorial level; creating an economic space for mutually agreed solutions to issues of transportation and other logistics waste operations. This conceptual approach will create competitive conditions for the subjects of environmental-economic activities, which initiate the responsible management of waste in aspects of their transportation, sorting, utilization, etc. in accordance with ISO standards in the areas of waste and transport management and the environmental management system.

Інституційні важелі забезпечення еколого-економічної ефективності сільськогосподарського землекористування

The purpose. To carry out ecological-economic assessment of efficiency of use of land resources of agricultural purpose in Kyiv oblast in comparison with state of ecological-economic efficiency of land-use at national level and to offer institutional levers of maintenance of its efficiency. Methods. By means of system analysis and synthesis with engaging statistical and correlation analysis with the subsequent demonstration of results and application of graphical method ecological-economic assessment of differences of level of efficiency of use of agrilands in Kyiv oblast from its state at national level is made. On the basis of monographic method generalization of experience of researches of domestic schools of pedology, agroecology is carried out. That may become a basis of the offered directions of institutional improvement of ways of overcoming ecological-economic crisis of agricultural land-use. Results. It is determined that modern organizational-economic approaches to agricultural land-use in Ukraine do not provide its balanced state. Conceptual aspects of maintenance of admissible level agroecological safety of agricultural land-use are specified at commodity production of plant growing and the role of local communities in solution of that problem in view of administrative reform of Ukraine is shown. Significance of heading free economic turnover of ground areas of agricultural purpose is underlined. Conclusions. It is proved that escalation of profits of farms leads to depletion of agricultural potential which descends now in Ukraine, and creates threats to maintenance of comprehensible level of agroecological and food safety. Significance of institutional and economic levers in innovation of organizational-economic conditions of managing is shown. These conditions are aimed at level of agrochemical parameters of qualitative state of soil covering of agrilands, that is an effective direction of maintenance of recovery and conservation of agricultural potential.

Carbon sinks and output of China's forestry sector: An ecological economic development perspective

Forestry has a dual role in mitigating climate change and increasing regional output value. Therefore, forestry is meaningful for the anthroposphere and the atmosphere. In this study, slacks-based measure (SBM) approach and Malmquist–Luenberger Index are adopted to measure the static efficiency and dynamic changes in forestry productivity in thirty regions in China. Ecological development is measured by setting forest carbon sinks as desirable output and economic development is evaluated by forestry output value. Moreover, using the three-stage DEA model, the economic and environmental factors are introduced to adjust regional forest carbon sinks and forestry output slacks. Finally, from timely evolution and spatial non-equilibrium perspectives, the ecological-economic efficiency and total factor productivity of forests are analyzed according to the results. The results revealed that the estimators of ecological efficiency and productivity are greater than the economic development of the forest. The highest ecological economic efficiency and productivity is in the southwest region of China. Eight economic or environmental factors adjusting the output have influence on the total factor productivity of forestry, and the results show that harvest has no clear effect on environmental improvement. Policy implications are further proposed to develop environmental management to mitigate climate change.

AN ECOLOGICAL ECONOMIC PARADIGM FOR SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT

The forest as a natural phenomenon is an ecological economic system meets economic, ecological and social needs, i.e contributes to the achievement of the sustainable development goals. The main function of a forest ecological system is carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen production, climate and water regulation and the production of other useful public goods, i.e. ecosystem services. The ecological economic paradigm for sustaining forestry is a component of broader paradigm and a step towards establishing national and global green economies. It makes necessary to replace the traditional criterion of maximizing profit with the integral criterion of ecological economic efficiency. The article deals with the physical nature of a forest, its economic, ecological and social functions, principles of management and the criterion of ecological economic efficiency of economic activity. It is proved that an ecological economic paradigm ensures the formation of close to nature forestry and should become categorically imperative for forestry practices throughout the world.

The relationship between regional industrial organizing levels and ecological economic efficiency

This paper investigated the roles of industrial organizing levels, economic resource endowments, and natural resource endowments in the development of ecological economic efficiency using data from China during the past decade. Besides an original assessing method for industrial organizing levels was developed, this paper investigated resource usage efficiency and pollution emission efficiency to determine the ecological economic efficiency. And this relationship was defined by the artificial neural network based regression method. In general, China's industrial organizational levels and ecological economic efficiency increased in the past decade, and had a positive relationship between them. However, resource endowments had a negative correlation with the ecological economic efficiency. Moreover, no obvious quantitative relationship was found between the organizational levels and the efficiency of water usage. After a deep discussion, policy suggestions were offered such as enhancing the marketization of waste dealing businesses, more publicity regarding preserving resource-rich regions, and increasing industrial organizing levels.

Ecological-economic efficiency evaluation of green technology innovation in strategic emerging industries based on entropy weighted TOPSIS method

In order to evaluate the impact of green technology innovation on ecological-economic efficiency of strategic emerging industries, the evaluation model is developed by the entropy weighted TOPSIS method. Through analyzing the impact factors of green technology innovation, the evaluation indicators system is constructed including positive factors and obstacles factors. The evaluation process is proposed, and six kinds of industry are selected to be the research objects on which the empirical analysis is made, the results show that the highest is the home audio-visual equipment manufacturers S6(E) whose weight is 0.7940 and the lowest is the electronic computer manufacturers S2(E) whose weight is 0.1938, finally, the countermeasures are proposed. The findings can avoid the subjectivity of human factors on the empowerment and solve the limitations of sample size and data distribution, and can help researchers precisely find the deficiency based on evaluation results.

К вопросу об эколого-экономической эффективности природоохранной деятельности в городских районах в новых экономических условиях

The analysis of aspects of ecological and economic efficiency
 in environmental management in urban areas under the
 new economic conditions is given. The main task of evaluating
 economic efficiency, cost and profit, research, indicators of the
 ecological-economic efficiency and address key methods of economic
 evaluation of environmental activities identified. the need
 to analyse the economic efficiency and its organization, defining
 objectives, through which to ensure the conservation and installation
 of the dependence of efficiency on different factors also reviewed.

Сравнительный анализ эколого-экономической эффективности альтернативных видов топлива на основе древесного сырья

Сравнительный анализ эколого-экономической эффективности альтернативных видов топлива на основе древесного сырья