Investment In Logistics Research Articles

The sustainable development of small and midsize enterprises in China on green reverse logistics

In response to the increasing global emphasis on sustainability and the specific challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China, this study explores the integration of green reverse logistics within these enterprises to enhance their sustainability and competitiveness. The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between reverse logistics, green logistics, and sustainable development. Data analysis was conducted utilizing a combination of descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. A survey of 311 participants examined SMEs’ performance in reverse logistics practices and their initiatives in green logistics and sustainable development. The empirical findings reveal significant progress in reverse logistics practices among SMEs, reducing environmental impact and improving resource efficiency. Moreover, a notable positive correlation was identified between reverse logistics promotion and advancements in green logistics and sustainable development. SMEs’ investment in reverse logistics is closely linked to their efforts in environmentally conscious and sustainable supply chain management. These insights benefit SMEs and supply chain practitioners and offer a valuable reference for future research and practical applications in this field.

Exploring the synergy of logistics, finance, and technology on innovation

As global environmental challenges intensify, manufacturing firms face increasing pressure to innovate sustainably. Green innovation, characterized by the development of environmentally friendly products, processes, and technologies, has become essential for firms striving to remain competitive. This study aims to investigate the influence of key factors—green logistics, green finance, and green technology—on green innovation within manufacturing firms, while exploring the mediating role of green technology in these relationships. A multi-method approach was employed, combining partial least squares structural equation modeling, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, and necessity condition analysis. 447 responses were collected from manufacturing companies in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, using structured questionnaires. The analysis revealed that green logistics and green finance have a significant positive impact on green innovation, while the influence of the green work environment was found to be positive but statistically insignificant. Additionally, green technology was identified as a significant mediator in the relationships between green finance, green logistics, and green innovation. This study offers a comprehensive green innovation model while green technology is a mediator. Furthermore, this study advances the resource-based view theory by integrating green technology as a pivotal resource that enhances a firm's competitive advantage in sustainable markets. By adopting a multi-method approach, this research provides a rigorous examination of the research questions, offering a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic interactions between green finance, green logistics, and green technology in driving innovation. Thus, this research has thought provoking implications to prioritize investments in green finance, logistics, and technology, manufacturing firms can enhance their competitiveness, improve operational efficiency, and meet evolving environmental regulations and consumer preferences.

Optimizing social costs in post-pandemic humanitarian distribution models

ABSTRACT In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Cross Society of China played a crucial role in distributing medical donations, but the initial efforts were inefficient and neglected medical personnel’s welfare. This study proposes a time-sensitive humanitarian distribution model that optimizes the social costs by integrating logistics and deprivation costs that cares about human suffering. We ues the Gini coefficient to evaluate delays in distribution, aiding trade-off analysis between logistics efforts and social welfare. Our findings show that the proposed model improves the Gini coefficient by an average of 33.96% across 500 scenarios. Additionally, investing 23.7% more in logistics costs reduces the Gini coefficient by 0.1, enhancing the social welfare of medical supplies distribution. Sensitivity analysis examines the impact of time delay and cost investment on the Gini coefficient, offering insights into balancing logistics investments and social welfare.

Freight logistics in Africa: information and technology as beacons

Movement of freight globally is complex due to the vast distances between countries, the in-transit perils, high costs, and challenges in meeting customer delivery timelines. Freight logistics within Africa is even more complex given the limited logistics infrastructure, varied regulations between countries, poor security and the high cost of transport. The purpose of this paper is to explore the status of academic literature on freight logistics in Africa and examine the potential of advanced information technologies in enhancing the logistics sector. The paper utilised the scoping literature review technique to select relevant documents. The freight logistics sector in Africa can be termed as struggling, it is among the least efficient globally. The lack of valid data on the various logistics components makes it difficult for stakeholders to plan for efficiency and effectiveness. The need for country specific technologies to address its unique challenges is emphasized. The smooth flow of goods across countries can only be achieved through collaboration among countries and investments in logistics infrastructure as well as technology. The study underscores the need for data-driven decision-making, context-specific technologies, and collaboration to improve Africa's freight logistics. The current study has explored the freight logistics literature focusing on Africa, not only to unearth the challenges, but also propose likely solutions. While the current study is limited to published literature, further research should empirically explore impactful technologies, compare countries' situations, and involve policymakers for comprehensive solutions.

Fresh agricultural products cold chain logistics distribution and path optimization

Based on the reference to the existing research results, combined with the enterprise's current distribution path, to minimize the cost as the research objective, to establish the relevant model, and put forward the control of logistics costs, increase the infrastructure investment in cold chain logistics, the optimization of the path of countermeasure proposals, to further improve the efficiency of the enterprise distribution and increase customer satisfaction at the same time reduces the cost of distribution, increase the core competitiveness of the industry.

Evaluation of Supply Chain Management Challenges of multinational companies in West Africa under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS)

This paper examined the Supply Chain Management challenges of multinational companies in West Africa under the ECOWAS trade liberalization scheme. The objective of the study includes to identify the various ECOWAS's regional integration protocols, Assess the level of implementation of ETLS among members state and evaluation of the various negative factors affecting full implementation of ETL, among others. The methodologies adopted includes Qualitative and quantitative method of data collection including literature review, expert interview, survey and case studies over a sample of 150 multinational companies (MNC). The results reveal that Complex and Non-Transparent Regulations exists among the MNC in the West African region, existence of Inadequate Infrastructure and Logistics, Non-Harmonized Trade Facilitation Measures as well as weak institutional co-ordination and enforcements. The study concludes that ETLS presents both opportunities and challenges for MNCs operating in West Africa and recommends among others the Simplification and Harmonization of Trade Regulations, investment in infrastructures and logistics as well as strengthening of institutional co-ordinations and enforcements.

Pricing and investment in manufacturing and logistics when environmental reputation matters

We consider pricing and manufacturing and logistics investment decisions by a manufacturer facing environmentally concerned consumers. Demand depends on the price and manufacturer’s environmental performance comparatively to the industry. As environmental reputation can only be built over time and emissions reduction capacity requires sustainable investments in manufacturing and logistics processes over time, our model is dynamic. The planning horizon is divided into two stages, with the endogenously determined switching time between the two happening when a predefined capacity threshold is reached. We characterize the optimal decisions in both stages and provide a series of numerical illustrations varying the model’s parameter values.Our main findings are as follows: (i) the price decreases when switching from the first to the second stage; (ii) emissions are above the industry standard during the first stage, while they are considerably below it in the second stage; (iii) the higher the capacity threshold for emissions reduction technologies, the larger the time it takes to reach it, which is costly in terms of reputation; (iv) although the consumers judge the manufacturer’s environmental performance in relative terms with respect to the industry standard, we get that an increase in this standard has a small effect on the switching date. Finally, (v) emissions reduction capacity only has a short-term effect on the manufacturer’s overall profit.

Exploración del comercio global: una revisión integral del comercio internacional y el comercio exterior

The cross-border exchange of goods, services, capital, and knowledge has emerged as a crucial driver of economic prosperity. Consequently, the objective of this work is to provide an overview of research trends in foreign and international trade, identifying thematic gaps and outlining areas for future research. To achieve this, a scientometric analysis and a systematic review of literature on the production of Scopus were carried out in the last five years. The findings revealed significant growth in current production, in which information was predominantly in English. Similarly, policy formulation requires a comprehensive approach, with a balance between free markets and protectionism, and an encouragement of participation in trade agreements and free trade agreements that drive multilateral and bilateral integration. Additionally, investments in infrastructure, logistics, and technological innovation, along with an understanding of socioeconomic, cultural, health, and environmental factors, allow for the improvement of connectivity and efficiency in international trade. Nonetheless, considering the environmental impact of trade, trends that aim to strike a balance between trade and environmental conservation, as well as addressing socioeconomic inequality, have emerged.

"I tell you, getting data for this is hell"-Exploring the use of evidence for noncommunicable disease policies in Ghana.

After several years of over concentration on communicable diseases, Ghana has finally made notable strides in the prevention of NCDs by introducing key policies and programmes. Evident shows that there is limited NCD-related data on mortality and risk factors to inform NCD policy, planning, and implementation in Ghana. We explored the evidence base for noncommunicable disease policies in Ghana. A qualitative approach was adopted using key informant interviews and documents as data sources. An adaptation of the framework method for analysing qualitative data by Gale and colleagues' (2013) was used to analyse data. Our findings show that effort has been made in terms of institutions and systems to provide evidence for the policy process with the creation of the Centre for Health Information Management and the District Health Information Management System. Although there is overreliance on routine facility data, policies have also been framed using surveys, burden of disease estimates, monitoring reports, and systematic reviews. There is little emphasis on content analysis, key informant interviews, case studies, and implementation science techniques in the policy process of Ghana. Inadequate and poor data quality are key challenges that confront policymakers. Ghana has improved its information infrastructure but access to quality noncommunicable disease data remains a daunting challenge. A broader framework for the integration of different sources of data such as verbal autopsies and natural experiments is needed while strengthening existing systems. This, however, requires greater investments in personnel and logistics at national and district levels.

Enhancing sustainable trade of mineral resources between China and African Great Lakes economies: Recommendations for action

The paper examines the sustainable trade of mineral resources between China and 10 African Great Lakes economies (2010–2021) under trade gravity theory. Using PPML estimation, findings confirm that per capita income equality positively impacts the sustainable trade index. Geographical distance hampers sustainable trade, while trade uncertainty poses challenges. A rise in China's Yuan decreases the sustainable development index. Surprisingly, patents show no significant relation to sustainable trade. To enhance sustainable trade, recommended strategies include poverty alleviation, financial inclusion, green logistics investments, and promoting the green financing market beyond the region.

A contender state’s multiscalar mediation of transnational capital: the belt and road in the Middle East

ABSTRACT The article assesses trans-scalar drivers of Belt and Road initiative’s (BRI) activities in the Middle East. It engages critically with the concepts of territorial and capitalist logics of power based on the contender state-society complex’s concept. The imprints of China’s contender state are identifiable in its peculiar mode of mediation of transnational capital both in terms of the state ownership-leadership of BRI projects’ and of their effective and potential outcomes. While BRI fixes over-accumulated capital through valorisation in external geographies, it is modulated to respond to a set of multi-scalar political and economic imperatives. Studied activities in the Middle East contribute to China’s energy security in terms of direct access to oil, trade routes, and oil invoicing practices. Transports and logistics investments strategically integrate the mainland’s underdeveloped regions as central nodes in the BRI’s transnational capital flows to dynamise their economies and ensure political stability. Beijing seems to be conducting a territorially embedded strategy to restructure the international monetary system through new oil-related financial and monetary arrangements with Middle East producers. Geopolitically, BRI reduces dependence on US-dominated global connectivity networks, thus increasing Beijing political autonomy.

Application of Nonlinear Differential Equation in Electronic Commerce

Abstract The author analyzes the network marketing model under the e-commerce mode through the marketing function under the nonlinear differential equation, through the research, it is found that the four variables of commodity price, advertising investment, sales model design investment and logistics investment are the key explanatory variables of sales volume of marketing network, among them, the price of goods has the greatest impact on online marketing, secondly, advertising investment, logistics investment and design investment have less impact.

The Impact of Distance in Retail Markets

We examine the demand-side implications of Amazon's distribution and logistics investments. Our results indicate that online demand–transactions at Amazon and its competitors–does not respond to the consumer's proximity to Amazon's upstream fulfillment distribution facilities, suggesting that their densification did not differentially improve local shipping times and on-time delivery. Instead, we find that investments in last-mile delivery facilities and services allow the company to improve shipping times more directly in the urban markets served by these facilities, simultaneously increasing demand through the rollout of same-day service options and reducing the visits to traditional brick-and-mortar retail.

Integrating Family Farming into School Feeding: A Systematic Review of Challenges and Potential Solutions

Family farming is strengthening its strategic role in school nutrition, but coordinating between school feeding programs and the agricultural sector has proven to be challenging. The goal of this review was to identify the problems that school feeding programs face in acquiring food from family farms. We selected studies from Web of Science, Medline/PubMed, and Scopus and evaluated their methodological quality. Out of 338 studies identified, 37 were considered relevant. We used PRISMA to guide the review process, and we chose not to limit the year or design of the study because it was important to include the largest amount of existing evidence on the topic. We summarized the main conclusions in six categories: local food production, marketing, and logistics channels, legislation, financial costs, communication and coordination, and quality of school menus. In general, the most critical problems emerge from the most fragile point, which is family farming, particularly in the production and support of food, and are influenced by the network of actors, markets, and governments involved. The main problems stem from the lack of investment in family farming and inefficient logistics, which can negatively impact the quality of school meals. Viable solutions include strategies that promote investment in agricultural policies and the organization of family farmers.

Towards the sustainable development of logistics system model: A system dynamics approach.

The contradiction between the limited service capacity of system and the explosive growth of demand has hampered the sustainable development of logistics system. Taking into account the structure of logistics system, this study introduces a system dynamics approach to explore the complex correlation and coupling structure of system, analyzes the multiple feedback loops and design the different scenarios. Results show that the validity and rationality of logistics system model, and the error percentage of GDP and logistics demand factors less than 6%. The influence of the investment in reverse logistics, logistics management, information and organizational management factor on the service quality of logistics system increases in turn. Additionally, adjustment of industrial structure has a significant impact on the investment in information management factor, and highway transportation plays a key role in influencing logistics energy consumption and carbon emissions indexes. The findings can provide valuable references and methodologies, as well as support for decision-making in the sustainable development of logistics system.

Estimating acid soil effects on selected cereal crop productivities in Ethiopia: Comparing economic cost-effectiveness of lime and fertilizer applications.

Acid soils are a major constraint to agricultural productivity in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Restoring soil pH to optimal ranges for agriculture can have a significant impact on yields, particularly for acid intolerant crops like wheat and barley. The application of agricultural lime is the standard corrective, although the large application requirements, lack of farmer awareness, and weak or non-existent lime supply chains make this a complex problem to address at scale. To date, no large-scale farmer trials of lime application have been undertaken in Ethiopia. This leaves open the question to local policy makers as to the economic benefits given the enormous capital and logistics investments required. To help address this we leverage existing spatial edaphic data and longitudinal crop surveys to simulate the productivity impact of varying lime and fertilizer applications. Our estimates find the impact of moving pH from 5.5 to 6.5, modeled as a lime soil remediation strategy, increases yields by 22% and 19% for wheat and barley, respectively. In addition, at lower pH levels our models indicate that commonly used nitrogen-based fertilizers are less cost-effective. For wheat in highly acidic soils, we find that fertilizers cost over two times as much as a single application of lime over a five-year period. The cost savings of the use of lime reaches as high as 121% of average one-year agricultural household income for wheat; with barley these savings are lower but still substantial at 24%. In general, we advocate for an integrated soil fertility management strategy that applies appropriate levels of fertilizer on pH balanced soil. If successful, Ethiopia's acid soil reclamation could become a modest version of Brazil's successful "cerrado miracle" and serve as an example for Africa.

Power battery closed-loop supply chain decision of green investment under different subsidy objects

The ideal closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) for power battery recycling is "production - transaction - recycling - echelon utilization - remanufacturing". For the purpose of boosting the utilization efficiency of power battery, this paper constructs two models on the echelon utilization of power battery to influence of the government subsidies to the power battery manufacturer or the recycler on CLSC. We focus on exploring the influence of the retailer's green investment in logistics and the sharing costs of manufacturer on the equilibrium results and profits of CLSC. The results show that when the power battery manufacturer's sharing coefficient is maintained in a low range, the investment level of green logistics can be promoted and the profit maximization of the CLSC can be achieved, which has a positive effect on the establishment of a good corporate image and the increase of demand. Furthermore, the power battery manufacturer ought to choose reasonable sharing coefficient to the positive effect of cost sharing on CLSC. In addition to increasing the number of used batteries to be recycled, government subsidies can also enhance the recycled efficiency of power batteries.

Logistics Investment and Economic Growth in Arab Countries and OECD Countries: A Mediation Analysis Approach

Logistics Investment and Economic Growth in Arab Countries and OECD Countries: A Mediation Analysis Approach

Facilitating trade in intermediate goods

A side effect of economic globalisation and new information and communication technologies is the increasing fragmentation of the production process across different countries and continents, contributing to the rise of trade in intermediate goods, which has increased to almost 2/3 of total world trade. Most of this trade, i.e., intermediate goods, are transported by sea. Maritime trade is one of the most economical but also complex ways of trading and transporting goods, requiring good coordination, various stops and controls, transhipments, storage, ICT technology to track the cargo, etc. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to quantify the impact of trade facilitation on trade in intermediate goods on the sample of EU28 countries, using biennial data for the period 2010-2018. We estimate augmented gravity model on bilateral trade data using a Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator. Our results suggest that, as expected, logistics, and in particular ICT development, has a significant and positive effect on trade in intermediate inputs, when controlling for other variables in the gravity model such as GDP of trading partners, distance, contiguity, existence of a free trade agreement, exchange rate, and common cultural proxies. Our results support the global trend of development and investment in logistics, and, in particular, new ICT technologies, which can not only contribute to the continued growth of trade in intermediates, but also help mitigate the negative effects of recent global economic shocks.

Examining export advantages in Indian horticulture: an approach based on product mapping and seasonality

PurposeThe present study provides evidence on export advantages of horticultural commodities based on competitiveness, trade balance and seasonality dimensions.Design/methodology/approachThe study delineated horticultural commodities in terms of comparative advantage, examined temporal shifts in export advantages (mapping) and estimated seasonality. Product mapping was carried out using the Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) and Trade Balance Index (TBI). Seasonal advantages were examined through a graphical approach along with the objective tests, namely, modified QS-test (QS), Friedman-test (FT) and using a seasonal dummy.FindingsCucumbers/gherkins, onions, preserved vegetables, fresh grapes, shelled cashew nuts, guavas, mangoes, and spices emerged as the most favorable horticultural products. India has a strong seasonal advantage in dried onions, cucumber/gherkins, shelled cashew nut, dried capsicum, coriander, cumin, and turmeric. The untapped potential in horticulture can be addressed by handling the trade barriers effectively, particularly the sanitary and phytosanitary issues, affecting the exports. Proper policies must be enacted to facilitate the investment in advanced agricultural technologies and logistics to ensure the desired quality and cost effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsCommodity-specific studies on value chain analysis would provide valuable insights into the issues hindering exports and realizing the untapped export potential.Originality/valueThere is no holistic and recent study illustrating the horticulture export advantages covering a large number of commodities in the Indian context. The study would be helpful to the stakeholders for drawing useful policy implications.