Level Of Economic Development Research Articles

Uneven agricultural contraction within fast-urbanizing urban agglomeration decreases the nitrogen use efficiency of crop production.

Diverse development paths among cities within an urban agglomeration can lead to uneven changes in their agricultural production scale, which reshape the inter-city food supply patterns and the spatiotemporal characteristics of nitrogen (N) pollution from the food system. Here, using Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of China as a case, we found a substantial decrease in N use efficiency of crop production from 45.2% to 29.3% during 1989-2007, along with a growing level of concentration of food N production in less-urbanized cities. From 1989 to 2018, 12.3% to 42.2% of total N pollution in food production became embedded in inter-city trade, leading to aggregation of N pollution in peripheral cities with relatively low levels of economic development. We suggest that protection and intensification of cropland from urban encroachment, as well as enhancing the economic and technical synergies among cities, can serve the sustainable transition of the food system with coordinated N pollution mitigation.

Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Advanced HIV Disease, from 1996 to 2021: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of advanced HIV disease (AHD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in PLHIV, the changes in HRQoL outcomes over the last 25years, and the differences between countries according to level of economic development. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. The search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science using the terms: "health-related quality of life", "HQRoL", "HIV", "AIDS", "advanced HIV disease" and "low CD4 cells". Studies inclusion criteria were: adult population; initiated after 1996 and published before July 2021; clinical trials, cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies; studies analyzing the relationship between AHD and HRQoL; English or Spanish language. Standardized mean differences (d+) were calculated to estimate the effect size for the meta-analyses. Summary statistics were calculated using a random-effects model, and analyses of effect moderators, using mixed-effects models. The meta-analysis included 38 studies. The results indicated that HRQoL is worse in patients with AHD compared to those without. The main HRQoL domains affected were overall health perception and concern and physical and functional health and symptoms. We found a moderate impact for age and gender on some HRQoL domains. There were no differences in relation to socioeconomic inequities, country of residence, or time period analyzed. In conclusion, advanced HIV disease has a negative impact on health and well-being in PLHIV. Our results show that despite all the advances in antiretroviral treatments over the last 25years, AHD persists as a source of extreme vulnerability, regardless of where PLHIV live.

Research of multimodal transport potential of major cities in China based on the satellite remote sensing

Abstract. By two or more modes of transportation to connect with each other and complete the transport process, multimodal transport could significantly improve transport efficiency, reduce costs, while promote energy conservation and emission reduction, compared with the traditional single mode of transport. Therefore, the multimodal transport development reflects the level of national or regional economic development to some extent. In this study, multimodal transport potential index was built to evaluate the possibility of multimodal transport. Remote sensing images from satellites were used to extract roads, railway stations and airports. A method was proposed to derive the road-rail transport potential index and road-air transport potential index, and then for the analysis of multimodal transport potential in 36 cities. Results show that there is a big gap among 36 cities on the development potential of road-rail and road-air transport. Compared with the road-rail transport potential index, the distribution of road-air transport potential index is more consistent among and within the seven regions. Index values of megacity and super cities are much higher than type I and II big cities. Moreover, in the 36 cities, there is a positive correlation between the multimodal transport potential index and GDP. The research results could be used to quantitatively evaluate the development of transport infrastructure, consequently provide more solid and reliable basic information for the planning, design and scheme adjustment of multimodal transport, thus comprehensively improve the efficiency and quality of multimodal transport, serve the territorial spatial planning.

Effectiveness of hierarchical medical system and economic growth: based on China’s urban vs. rural health perspectives

BackgroundThe hierarchical medical system is an important measure to promote equitable healthcare and sustain economic development. As the population’s consumption level rises, the demand for healthcare services also increases. Based on urban and rural perspectives in China, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the hierarchical medical system and its relationship with economic development in China.Materials and methodsThe study analyses panel data collected from Chinese government authorities, covering the period from 2009 to 2022. According to China’s regional development policy, China is divided into the following regions: Eastern, Middle, Western, and Northeastern. Urban and rural component factors were downscaled using principal component analysis (PCA). The factor score formula combined with Urban–rural disparity rate (ΔD) were utilized to construct models for evaluating the effectiveness of the hierarchical medical system from an urban–rural perspective. A Vector Autoregression model is then constructed to analyze the dynamic relationship between the effects of the hierarchical medical system and economic growth, and to predict potential future changes.ResultsThree principal factors were extracted. The contributions of the three principal factors were 38.132, 27.662, and 23.028%. In 2021, the hierarchical medical systems worked well in Henan (F = 47245.887), Shandong (F = 45999.640), and Guangdong (F = 42856.163). The Northeast (ΔDmax = 18.77%) and Eastern region (ΔDmax = 26.04%) had smaller disparities than the Middle (ΔDmax = 49.25%) and Western region (ΔDmax = 56.70%). Vector autoregression model reveals a long-term cointegration relationship between economic development and the healthcare burden for both urban and rural residents (βurban = 3.09, βrural = 3.66), as well as the number of individuals receiving health education (β = −0.3492). Both the Granger causality test and impulse response analysis validate the existence of a substantial time lag between the impact of the hierarchical medical system and economic growth.ConclusionResidents in urban areas are more affected by economic factors, while those in rural areas are more influenced by time considerations. The urban rural disparity in the hierarchical medical system is associated with the level of economic development of the region. When formulating policies for economically relevant hierarchical medical systems, it is important to consider the impact of longer lags.

Persistent inequities in maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1990–2019

BackgroundDespite the resources and personnel mobilized in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR, maternal deaths per 100 000 live births) in women aged 10–54 years by 75% between 2000 and 2015, the region failed to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) due to persistent barriers to access quality reproductive, maternal, and neonatal health services.MethodsUsing 1990–2019 data from the Global Burden of Disease project, we carried out a two-stepwise analysis to (a) identify the differences in the MMR temporal patterns and (b) assess its relationship with selected indicators: government health expenditure (GHE), the GHE as percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), the availability of human resources for health (HRH), the coverage of effective interventions to reduce maternal mortality, and the level of economic development of each country.FindingsIn the descriptive analysis, we observed a heterogeneous overall reduction of MMR in the region between 1990 and 2019 and heterogeneous overall increases in the GHE, GHE/GDP, and HRH availability. The correlation analysis showed a close, negative, and dependent association of the economic development level between the MMR and GHE per capita, the percentage of GHE to GDP, the availability of HRH, and the coverage of SBA. We observed the lowest MMRs when GHE as a percentage of GDP was close to 3% or about US$400 GHE per capita, HRH availability of 6 doctors, nurses, and midwives per 1,000 inhabitants, and skilled birth attendance levels above 90%.ConclusionsWithin the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, health policies aimed at the effective reduction of maternal mortality should consider allocating more resources as a necessary but not sufficient condition to achieve the goals and should prioritize the implementation of new forms of care with a gender and rights approach, as well as strengthening actions focused on vulnerable groups.

Study on the Impact of Digital Economy Enabling High-Quality Economic Development in Yunnan Province

This article aims to explore the role of digital economy and its mechanism in promoting the high-quality development of Yunnan Province's economy. By constructing an evaluation index system and applying econometric methods, the current situation of the digital economy in Yunnan Province and its impact on the high-quality development of the economy are comprehensively analyzed. It is found that the digital economy has a significant positive contribution to the high-quality development of Yunnan Province's economy, and indirectly affects the high-quality development of the economy by enhancing the level of entrepreneurship. In addition, there is a non-linear relationship between the digital economy and high-quality economic development, and the promotion effect of the digital economy on high-quality economic development varies significantly across different levels of economic development. Based on these findings, the article puts forward policy recommendations such as comprehensively promoting the development of the digital economy and implementing a differentiated digital economy development strategy in order to promote the sustainable development of Yunnan Province and the wider region in the era of the digital economy.

The Impact of Digital Economy on Domestic Trade and Investment Efficiency Measurement and Heterogeneity Analysis

Against the backdrop of a new round of booming technological revolution, the digital economy has brought about high-quality development for trade. This paper is based on the 2011-2019 China's trade and investment in China, which will have a profound impact on China's trade and investment. This paper is based on the2011-2019 China. The spatial panel data of 30 provinces (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) were analysed by using OLS model, panel solid model and panel data. Construct correlation regression models using fixed effects model, panel random effects model, differential GMM and systematic GMM methods. type and "Digital Economy Development Level Indicator System" to study the impact of the digital economy on the efficiency of domestic trade and investment.so as to contribute to the promotion of high-level opening up to the outside world, the deepening of domestic demand strategy, and the construction of " trade power".

Study on the Coordinated Development Model of Ecological Economy and Environmental Protection

This paper establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system of the ecological environment and the economy, and the coupling degrees and coordination degrees from 2015 to 2019 are calculated. The results show that (1) There is a relationship between economic growth and environmental pollution. Discharging industrial pollutants is an important factor affecting the coordinated development of the ecological environment and economic coupling. (2) The comprehensive evaluation index of the ecological environment and economic development systems is increasing yearly, and the quality of the ecological environment and the level of economic development are constantly improving. (3) The value of the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree between ecological environment and economic development is increasing yearly, and the development trend is good. The coupling degree gradually shifts from low-level coupling to high-level coupling stage.

Which Provinces Will Be the Beneficiaries of Forestry Carbon Sink Trade? A Study on the Carbon Intensity–Carbon Sink Assessment Model in China

Carbon emissions pose a significant challenge to sustainable development, particularly for China, which is the world’s largest emerging economy and is under pressure to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce emissions amid escalating human activities. The variation in economic development levels and carbon sequestration capacities among its provinces poses a significant hurdle. However, previous research has not adequately examined this dual discrepancy from the perspective of spatial heterogeneity, resulting in a lack of differentiated management of forest carbon sinks across diverse regions. Therefore, to mitigate this discrepancy, this study presents an assessment methodology that analyzes over 100 types of natural and plantation forests using forest age and biomass expansion factors. This study presents a model that can significantly support the efforts of both China and the whole world to achieve carbon neutrality through the improved management of forest carbon sinks. This approach facilitates the assessment of carbon offsets required to meet reduction targets, the development of a provincial framework for carbon intensity and sequestration, and the exploration of their potential for trading markets. Analysis is conducted using MATLAB. Key achievements of this study include the following: (1) The collection of a comprehensive carbon stock dataset for 50 natural and 57 plantation forest types in 31 provinces from 2009 to 2018, highlighting the significant role of new forests in carbon sequestration. (2) The development of a provincial carbon status scoring system that categorizes provinces as carbon-negative, carbon-balancing, or carbon-positive based on local forest sink data and carbon credit demand. (3) The formulation of the carbon intensity–carbon sink assessment (CISA) model, which suggests that provinces with middle- to upper-middle-level economies may have a prolonged need for carbon sink credits during their peak carbon phase. Furthermore, the results show that carbon trading may benefit Guangxi and Yunnan, but may also bring opportunities and risks to Hunan and Hubei. To address regional imbalances, this study advocates tailored policies: carbon-negative and carbon-balancing provinces should enhance carbon sink management, while carbon-positive provinces must focus on energy structure transformation to achieve sustainable development goals.

The coupling coordination between health service supply and regional economy in China: spatio-temporal evolution and convergence

BackgroundThe coordination of health service supply and regional economy is an integral path to promote China’s prosperity.MethodsBased on the coupling mechanism of health service supply and regional economy, we sampled the data from 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2021 in this study and constructed the evaluation index system. Additionally, we calculated the coupling coordination degree (HED) of the two through the coupling coordination degree model. We further used the kernel density estimation, Moran’s I index, and spatial β convergence model to assess the dynamic evolution trends, spatial aggregation effect, and spatial convergence characteristics of coupling coordination.Conclusion(1) HED in China showed a rising trend during the study period but with large regional differences, forming a gradient distribution pattern of “high in the east and low in the west.” (2) The results of Kernel density estimation show that HED has formed a gradient differentiation phenomenon within each region in China. (3) HED has modeled spatial clustering characteristics during the study period, with high-value clusters mainly appearing in the eastern region and low-value clusters appearing in the northwestern region. (4) There are absolute β-convergence and conditional β-convergence trends in HED in China and the three major regions during the study period, but there is an obvious regional heterogeneity in the control factors. The research provides a reference for accurately implementing policies according to different levels of health service supply and economic development, in addition to narrowing the regional differences of the coupling coordination between the regional economy and health service supply.

Energy efficiency as a driver of the circular economy and carbon neutrality in selected countries of Southern Europe: a soft computing approach

BackgroundThe main goal of the paper is to define the level of energy efficiency in the economies of selected countries in the Balkan region that have opted for the EU Green Deal, a circular economy, and a transition to carbon neutrality. Energy efficiency, as a determinant of carbon neutrality, was selected as an indicator for analysis because it records particularly unfavorable indicators in the region under observation. The research was carried out on a sample of seven Balkan countries and their surrounding areas. An initial qualitative analysis was followed by a quantitative analysis based on a combination of statistical methods and soft computing. Six indicators were selected for the analysis covering a period of 30 years (1990–2020).ResultsA significant obstacle to the green transition and the region’s transition to a circular economy and carbon neutrality is energy efficiency and energy related pollution—the reliance of most countries on coal-fired thermal power plants for electricity generation. The research results showed the following: (a) the degree of economic development and membership in the European Union are not significantly related to the level of energy efficiency; (b) most of the sampled countries are in the initial stages of introducing activities to achieve carbon neutrality; and (c) only Slovenia has documented consistent indicators and evident advancements in its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Based on the research findings, proposals for improvements were made in the direction of policymaking and in a methodological sense.ConclusionsThe implementation of circularity and carbon neutrality as a long-term goal of the European Union is not necessarily related to the level of economic development, nor can its trajectory be exclusively ascertained by means of data processing and monitoring. A more precise understanding of a carbon-neutral future can be achieved through the incorporation of qualitative data to a greater extent, a realistic evaluation of historical facts and their repercussions, as well as projections of the effects that reality and global developments after 2022 will have on each country.

How effective is the reduction of major pollutants in thermal power plants under the ultra-low emission policy?

In 2015, the Chinese government set ultra-low emission standards for thermal power to alleviate the pressure of increasing total pollutants from energy demand. This paper analyzes the policy effect of ultra-low emission in different regions based on panel data of 1202 thermal power enterprises, and the results of hierarchical linear model show that the total amount of air pollutants emitted by thermal power enterprises showed a decreasing trend during 2017–2021, realizing the dual control of concentration and total amount. Due to the differences in primary energy structure, industrial structure and economic development level of different regions, the total emission reduction of thermal power pollutants is affected differently. First, the proportion of the region's secondary industry in the region's GDP is negatively correlated with the decrease of the total pollutant emission of local thermal power enterprises. Second, the higher the per capita GDP of the region, the more significant the decrease in the total amount of pollutants, economic development is conducive to pollutant emission reduction. Third, the higher the proportion of thermal power in local energy, the more obvious the reduction of total pollutant emissions of thermal power enterprises, indicating that the implementation of ultra-low emission policies in these regions is more thorough. In addition, the environmental protection tax plays a positive role in the total emission reduction, and the higher the sulfur dioxide tax rate, the more significant the reduction of total pollutants of thermal power enterprises. To further reduce the total amount of pollutants in thermal power, more coordinated efforts of environmental and economic policies are needed.

“Fundamentals of Global Competition: Logistics, Technology and Polar Alliances in Past, Present and Future. Part 1”

The formation and functioning of various models of the world order has a deep and complex history that does not fit into the traditional chronologically consistent scheme, and these models themselves did not inherit each other, but were combined in varying degrees of harmony. The dynamics of international relations, at least in the medium term, will be determined by the trends observed over the past decades — such as inequality in the levels of economic development, the redistribution of shares of world wealth, the rivalry for global dominance between the United States, gradually losing its position as sole leader, China, Russia and other global players, and finally, the search for new tools balancing the global status quo. Expansion geopolitics will also remain the dominant trend in the short- to medium-term perspective. One of its striking manifestations is the Belt — Road Initiative, implemented by the PRC. Expansion geopolitics seems to get start most intensively in West Africa. The region, on the one hand, needs large infrastructure investments, on the other hand, — has a number of advantages that could create a production and logistics hub in it, the starting point of a project similar to the Chinese Belt — Road initiative.

Transforming capital: The role of human capital structure in modulating environmental outcomes across economic transitions

Based on the perspective of new structural economics, this study builds a theoretical framework of human capital structure and environmental pollution. Human capital structure on pollution has different manifestations at different stages of development, the effect of pollution based on human capital structure follows the environmental Kuznets curve. Using multinational panel data (1990–2015) and provincial panel data for China (2004–2020), examined the dynamic relationship between human capital structure upgrading and pollution by introducing an interaction term between human capital and economic development level, applying random-effect, fixed-effect models, and a dynamic model test. The results support our theoretical analysis.

Investigating the impact of artificial intelligence development on water pollution in China

Analysing the impacts of AI development on water pollution is of great significance for improving water environment management measures and promoting global sustainable development. In this study, macro and micro panel data of China from 2008 to 2019 were used to measure the development level of AI at the industry and provincial levels in China, and a panel data regression model was constructed to analyse the effects of AI development on water pollution and regional heterogeneity. The measurement results show that the development level of AI is increasing. Among the six industries, the intelligence level of the manufacturing industry has developed the fastest, by approximately 48.74 times compared with the baseline. At the provincial level, Guangdong Province made the greatest progress in intelligence level, increasing by approximately 23.6 times. The regression results show that AI technology is helpful in reducing the level of water pollution, and this conclusion remains valid after the regression of instrumental variables and robustness testing. In terms of regional heterogeneity, AI technology can significantly reduce the degree of water pollution in eastern and western China. However, the development of AI technology in the central region has no significant impact on water pollution, and a risk of increasing the degree of water pollution exists. The reasons may be that the eastern region has high levels of economic vitality and technological innovation and a strong ability to transform AI achievements, which can significantly improve the water environment. Industrial support policies in the western region are strong, and the application of AI can quickly improve production methods and significantly reduce water pollution levels. In comparison, the levels of economic development, technological innovation, and policy support in the central region need to be strengthened, so the environmental effect of AI is not significant.

Does digital technology enhance the global value chain position?

Embedding new technology creates opportunities and challenges for the global value chain (GVC). Using country-level panel data from 59 economies in 2007–2018, we construct a fixed-effects model to investigate the relationship between digital technology and the GVC position. Moreover, we examine how digital technology affects the GVC position with a mediating model and consider the heterogeneity of this impact on GVC status. The main findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between digital technology and the GVC position, which means that, during the catch-up stage of digital technology, negative effects on input demand chains lead to a decline in GVC status, whereas, at a mature phase of technological development, positive effects on output supply chains enhance the GVC position. The impact of digital technology on the ascent in GVC status is mediated by productivity. Moreover, we analyze the different impacts of trade openness and economic development levels. Our findings suggest that countries with lower levels of economic development and high trade openness reach a U-shaped inflection point, accelerating their progression in the global value chain.

Exploring paths underpinning the implementation of municipal waste sorting: Evidence from China

Urban residents' waste sorting plays a pivotal role in addressing the pressing challenge of the “waste siege” in China and is also closely associated with the quality of urban governance. We draw on the Technology–Organization–Environment framework to identify six key variables affecting municipal waste sorting in China: digital technology innovation, attention allocation, publicity and education, enforcement intensity, economic development level, and volunteer resources. Using the fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) method to analyze the effect of conditions on municipal waste sorting, the results show the following: 1) A single condition is insufficient to ensure high levels of municipal waste sorting. We propose that the “multiple concurrency” of technological, organizational, and environmental conditions creates diverse paths for promoting municipal waste sorting. 2) We then identify three paths for waste-sorting promotion, which all require technological, organizational, and environmental conditions. In addition, the two paths obtained for low levels of municipal waste sorting are not the opposite of those obtained for high levels. By observing the above five paths of waste sorting, we deduced that digital technology innovation is indispensable in driving waste sorting, and 3) Our cross-case comparisons show that there are effective paths to waste-sorting governance that work for cities regardless of their location or piloting. In some cases, high levels of attention allocation and high levels of publicity and education are substitutes for each other. We recommend that local governments refer to their own unique characteristics and resource endowments when tailoring waste-sorting strategies.

Spillover effects and influencing factors of tourism eco‐efficiency for sustainable development: A case study of cities in the Yangtze River Delta

AbstractTourism often brings about negative environmental impacts. Tourism eco‐efficiency (TEE) and its spatial coordination are of great significance for sustainable tourism development and environmental protection in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). TEE index system was established and applied in this study. The inter‐city TEE spatial correlation network is established by the modified gravity model and analyzed by social network analysis (SNA). Spatial Durbin model (SDM) was used to analyze the spatial spillover effects of the two centrality indicators of the network. Based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, we analyzed TEE enhancement configuration. The results show that: TEE in 26 cities in the study area has improved overall; the phenomenon of unbalanced development within the region still exists. In addition, the TEE of each city in the spatial correlation network of TEE in the YRD urban agglomeration is connected with each other, and there is a significant negative spillover effect. TEE is mainly affected by the level of economic development, industrial status of the tourism industry, tourism industry concentration, tourism investment level, tourism resource endowment, urban landscaping, and information development level. The combination of these factors and TEE can form five configuration patterns for TEE enhancement. This study combines SNA and SDM for the first time, and the conclusions obtained can more deeply describe the spatial correlation between different urban eco‐efficiency in the YRD. Aiming at the sustainable development of regional tourism, this study provides help for strengthening the protection of tourism ecological environment in the YRD.

ECONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL DIMENSIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT CORRIDORS IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION

Under current conditions of growing interdependence of national economies, global supply chains are being transformed and trade flows are being reoriented. The dynamics and scale of these processes are largely determined by the efficiency of international transport corridors. Investments in transport corridors have a significant multiplier effect on the entire economy by stimulating the development of transport and logistics and related sectors of the economy, creating a growing demand in labour markets, and developing global value chains, international production, trade and logistics networks. The purpose of the article is to study the impact of international transport corridors on the development of territories at the national and regional levels. The use of descriptive statistics allowed to assess the impact of international transport corridors on the level of economic development, trade openness and foreign trade volumes based on the analysis of data from 121 countries. The links between the zones of influence of international transport corridors and other functional types of territories in Ukraine were investigated. The territorial coefficient of environmental load in the context of Ukrainian regions was calculated. The results of the study will be useful for both researchers in the field of logistics and transport infrastructure development and policymakers in the field of transport and economic policy.

AN ALTERNATIVE MODELING OF THE INNOVATIVE POTENTIAL OF COMPANIES

Modern economic conditions require the testing and introduction of new methods to find ways to achieve a prolonged effect in terms of ownership and investment attractiveness. The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical and methodological tasks regarding ways to maximize the investment attractiveness of companies, using external search information about the state of innovation potential of companies with different levels of economic development and the selection of logically justified descriptors of influence.We have defined the principles of the author's concept - Unified concept of building innovation potential - (UKDIP), the essence of which is to find unified ways to increase the innovative potential of business entities, at the expense of descriptors of the state of the innovation sector (gross domestic expenditure on R&D, the number of researchers, the number of government researchers, number of triadic patent families). We confirmed the relationship between the meta-factors of innovation using the foundations of the implicit theory. Using the clustering method, we have formed 4 latent clusters with varying degrees of investment attractiveness. The approach defined by us can serve as one of the options for effective methods of researching the influence of factors that contribute to the growth of the innovative potential of individual companies and, consequently, the national economy as a whole.