Social Governance Research Articles

Smart city construction and urban livability: evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China

As global urbanization speeds up, smart city construction has become crucial for improving urban management and elevating residents’ life quality. Its impact on urban livability is now a key issue in urban planning and public policy. This study treats smart city policy (SCP) implementation as a quasi-natural experiment, using panel data from 284 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2019. A time-varying DID model is used to quantify SCP’s effect on urban livability and to examine their transmission mechanisms. The findings show that: (1) SCP significantly improves urban livability, as verified by a series of robustness tests; (2) SCP has a stronger positive impact in larger cities, non-resource-based cities, and cities with higher human capital; (3) Technological innovation and government social governance are key pathways through which SCP enhances urban livability; (4) SCP has positive spillover effects that improve livability in surrounding non-pilot cities. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers on optimizing resource allocation and increasing the effectiveness of smart city initiatives and provide a sound empirical basis for future urban transformation strategies in China.

“Stay committed on the frontlines”: sustainability of the activism of social workers in Guiyang, China

Social work has played an increasingly important role in social governance, service provision and driving for social change in China. Despite of the advancement of social work at the macro level in the country, substantial challenges remain to the sustainability of activism of social workers under the current social and economic context in China. Yet the fundamental reasons that underpin social workers’ persistence in activism haven’t been well investigated. By following the sustained commitment theory, the researchers investigated how and why frontline social workers sustain their activism over time. Qualitative research was conducted with 15 frontline social workers from local organizations in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China. The findings highlight the role of “creativity” in maintaining activism of social workers in a way that both challenge and advance the sustained commitment theory. Instead of being confined to a fixed set of creative actions described by the theory, this study stresses the creativity of social workers in addressing challenges and generating feasible strategies in specific contexts. An essential prerequisite “confidence” for creativity in sustaining activism in social work was introduced. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of sustained activism in social work through the lens of social workers and the enhancement of the professional support for social workers in China.

"Stay committed on the frontlines": sustainability of the activism of social workers in Guiyang, China.

Social work has played an increasingly important role in social governance, service provision and driving for social change in China. Despite of the advancement of social work at the macro level in the country, substantial challenges remain to the sustainability of activism of social workers under the current social and economic context in China. Yet the fundamental reasons that underpin social workers' persistence in activism haven't been well investigated. By following the sustained commitment theory, the researchers investigated how and why frontline social workers sustain their activism over time. Qualitative research was conducted with 15 frontline social workers from local organizations in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China. The findings highlight the role of "creativity" in maintaining activism of social workers in a way that both challenge and advance the sustained commitment theory. Instead of being confined to a fixed set of creative actions described by the theory, this study stresses the creativity of social workers in addressing challenges and generating feasible strategies in specific contexts. An essential prerequisite "confidence" for creativity in sustaining activism in social work was introduced. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of sustained activism in social work through the lens of social workers and the enhancement of the professional support for social workers in China.

Describing the evolution of three features of China's drug policy: Regulation, crime and punishment, and rehabilitation.

Describing the evolution of three features of China's drug policy: Regulation, crime and punishment, and rehabilitation.

Social governance, financial regulation, and corporate investment efficiency

Social governance, financial regulation, and corporate investment efficiency

THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, GOVERNANCE & INSTITUTIONAL OWNERSHIP ON FIRMVALUE WITH FIRM SIZE AS A MODERATION VARIABLE

Introduction: Firm value reflects the firm's capacity to improve efficiency and strategy in resource utilization; various aspects are capable of encouraging an increase in firm value, including environmental, social, governance, and institutional ownership. Recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Indonesia data illustrates this transformation in corporate reporting practices. As of December 30, 2022, 653 listed companies submitted their 2021 Sustainability Reports, representing 79% of all listed companies. This marked a dramatic 324% increase compared to the 154 companies that produced such reports in 2021 (www.pwc.com). This substantial growth demonstrates the rapidly evolving corporate landscape where sustainability reporting has transitioned from an optional practice to an essential business component. Methods: The research applies a quantitative approach, utilizes saturated sampling, and analyzes the data using panel data regression. Results: The finding that environmental, social, and governance affect the value of the firm's ESG Leader Index. Firm size moderates the effect of environmental, social, and governance factors on firm value, and firm size is unable to moderate the influence of institutional ownership on firm value. Keywords: Environmental Social Governance, Institutional Ownership, Firm Value, Firm Size, ESG Leader Index

Assessment of Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM) Emissions from Sawmills in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This research evaluated the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) emissions and other pollutants in sawmills located within Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria as well as the occupational health effects on the workers. The study utilized real-time air quality assessment tools alongside structured questionnaires which were implemented in a mixed methods cross sectional approach. These tools together with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to gather spatial, environmental, and demographic information from a total of 384 sawmill workers in 12 sawmills across the three senatorial districts of the state. Findings indicated that particulate matter concentrations at the sources of wood dust almost always surpassed WHO limits with measurements between 2.08 mg/m³ to 3.12 mg/m³ especially in areas such as Idu Uruan and Ikot Ekpene. Several workplaces also breached the OSHA’s 85 dB (A) limit for noise with some exceeding 110 dB (A). Most of the workers were men aged between 31 to 45 years, poorly educated, and had more than six years of work experience which indicated chronic exposure coupled with low health literacy and inadequate protective measures. All these factors underline the need for ordinances pertaining to social governance in occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and didactic policy. This study calls on health policymakers, occupational health experts, and sawmill owners to take comprehensive measures for sustainable policy to contain pollution and the health risk among workers for the wood processing industry in Nigeria.

Exploring the New Blue Ocean of Low-altitude Economy: An Empirical Analysis of Industrial Status Quo and Technological Innovation References

Low-altitude economy, as an important component of the modern economic system, is becoming a new engine for promoting high-quality regional development and industrial upgrading. The low-altitude economy industry, centered on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), general aviation, and air traffic management, not only significantly enhances the efficiency of traditional industries but also gives rise to new business forms such as low-altitude tourism, urban air mobility (UAM), and smart logistics, forming a trillion-yuan market scale. According to statistics, the scale of China's low-altitude economy has exceeded 500 billion yuan in 2023, and it is expected to drive an industrial chain value of over 2 trillion yuan by 2030. The development of low-altitude economy is deeply in line with the national strategy. By unleashing the potential of low-altitude airspace resources, optimizing regional transportation networks, and promoting the integration of scientific and technological innovation and high-end manufacturing, it provides brand-new solutions for the coordinated development of urban agglomerations and rural revitalization. The breakthrough in this field is not only a technological revolution, but also a comprehensive test of institutional innovation, industrial collaboration and social governance capabilities. Its significance has risen to the dimensions of national competitiveness and economic security. Therefore, based on the perspective of the development of low-altitude economic industries in Guangdong and Guangxi, this paper conducts research and analysis on the current cognition status and future development trend of the low-altitude industries of the people in Guangdong and Guangxi.

Analysis of the Influencing Factors of the Success of Metro Commercial Development Projects based on Structural Equation Modeling

To strengthen the control of key points of projects, enhance management capabilities, effectively guide project planning and operation, and promote the implementation and sustainable development of metro commercial development projects, a structural equation theoretical model of the success of metro commercial development projects was established, with four latent variables: government governance, market governance, social governance, and project cooperation process, and 19 observed variables. Through a questionnaire survey of the “Metro e-Station” project in Tianjin and using the AMOS software for validity, reliability analysis, and path testing, it was found after model revision that social governance has the greatest impact on the success of metro commercial development projects, followed by market governance and government governance, while the direct impact of the project cooperation process is not significant. Analysis of the observed variables revealed that supervision and evaluation, operation management, and supervision and review are more prominent factors affecting the success of metro commercial development projects.

Public Participation in Urban Park Co-Construction: A Case Study on Exploring Sustainable Design Paths for County Cities in Kaiyuan County, Yunnan Province

The rapid urbanization of the world has brought significant environmental, social, and economic challenges to human society. To build a sustainable county, there are many limiting factors, such as the environment, financial resources, and population. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to investigate how countries can empower their development through a sustainable design path for parks with the participation of all. The core of public participation in co-construction lies in the interactive relationship between the government, society, citizens, and many other groups. That is, “co-construction, co-governance, and sharing” is the basic content of the new pattern of social governance from the perspective of the park city; at its core is joint participation, division of labor, and cooperation. Using qualitative research methods, Kaiyuan, a county in Yunnan Province, was selected as a case study, focusing on the Phoenix Ecological Park and Happiness Lawn; citizens and managers were interviewed to explore paths for sustainable design in the counties. The contribution of this study is a research model of sustainable design for county parks with the participation of all the people. The study found that public participation should consider multiple co-constructions and formulate a sound sustainable design path from three dimensions: counties, managers, and citizens. Combined with the local characteristics of counties, the government has called on enterprises, organizations, and citizens to participate together in improving the quality of life and happiness of county residents. The results can be further verified in other counties.

Novel Incorporation of Environmental Social Governance Ratings for Premarket and Established Chemical Process Technologies

Novel Incorporation of Environmental Social Governance Ratings for Premarket and Established Chemical Process Technologies

Assessing Environmental Social Governance in Zambia's Banking Sector

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) has taken centre stage in the global financial sector due to pressing global challenges such as natural disasters and climate change, governance failures and human rights abuses. These challenges have brought to the fore, opportunities that lie in financial institutions strategically implementing ESG (Chen et al., 2023). Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess ESG in Zambia’s banking sector and extend ESG knowledge by evaluating the level of ESG awareness, identify current ESG practices and analyze the relationship between ESG awareness and the implementation of ESG practices and the impact of ESG implementation of banks financial standing within Zambia's financial sector. This contributes to the body of knowledge on ESG practices by highlighting any informational, implementational and policy gaps that exist in the Zambian banking sector, aiding donors, investors, businesses and government to foster an environment that supports sustainable development. Literature reviewed showed that countries in the global north have made significant progress in implementing ESG considerations (Burianova and Paulik, 2014; Chen et al., 2023), unfortunately, this is not the case for sub-Saharan African countries, Zambia included. Most of the research on ESG in Zambia, has focused on the mining sector (Ndemena, 2024; Phiri and Mantzari, 2018) with very little written about the financial sector. The little being done is uncoordinated and mainly undocumented (BIOFIN, 2024) resulting in an evidence and knowledge gap on ESG awareness and practices in the banking sector. The methodology was based on Saunders Onion Philosophy using positivism and deductive approaches. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample of four banks drawn from a population of 15 commercial banks. The findings and associated interpretation under objective one showed that the level of ESG in Zambia’s banking sector can be considered high, highlighting the fact that despite, ESG still emerging, it is an important topic of conversation and strategic decision for banks. Common practices included board ESG supervision, tree planting initiatives, waste management ventures, ESG public disclosures, community engagements and volunteerism, climate smart building, sustainability policies and water re-use and management. The study found that ESG awareness leads to better ESG implementation among Zambian banks. This relationship between awareness and implementation was found to be positive. A self-assigned positive relationship between ESG awareness and implementation and ROA was recorded, however, due to the infancy of the ESG practices and implementation in the banking sector in Zambia, this study was unable to ascertain if the impact on finances is neutral, positive or negative through regression analysis. This paper concluded that ESG is a concept well known in Zambia, however, measurement metrics must be agreed on for banks to implement and monitor ESG appropriately, especially to measure ESG impact on financial performance. ESG practices among banks are improving to include environmental and social considerations. This paper summarily recommends that ESG metrics be agreed on nationally, the regulatory framework be reviewed to include mandatory ESG reporting and banks dedicate more resources to staff ESG trainings and activities.

Embedding “Society” into the Chinese Communist Party’s Rule of Law

Abstract This paper examines how the Chinese Communist Party envisages building a particular type of society based on the precepts of law, which the Party calls “rule of law-based society”. To Party legal theorists, building a “rule of law-based society” is an integral part of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Drawing on the Party’s 2020 “Implementation Outline for the Construction of a Rule of Law-based Society (2020–2025)”, this paper argues that the Party’s “rule of law-based society” vision seeks to bring cohesion to the expansive social governance system to produce both social cohesion and social and political stability. In doing so, social services and stability maintenance mechanisms are brought together under the auspices of a plan to legally institutionalize social governance. Placing the concept of “rule of law-based society” in a broader political context of social governance, this paper analyses how this important element of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law seeks to make Party-led social governance cohere through ideology, policy and law.

From Sustainability DNA to a Strategically Sustainability Approach: The Role of Governance within an ESG Framework

The Thai Eastern Group Holdings (TEGH) case examines the challenges of a family-owned company when evolving into a multinational, publicly listed corporation, on whether and how to keep its sustainability mindset legacy, while adapting to more diverse shareholders and global market demands. The case highlights the evolution of an agribusiness that started as a local family-owned entity, in which sustainable practices were naturally integrated into its business operations and reflected a sustainability mindset deeply rooted in its DNA, rather than formal strategic plans. This intrinsic approach eventually facilitated TEGH’s alignment with Environmental–Social–Governance (ESG) formal principles. As the business expanded to a global business player and strategic decisions became influenced by more formal corporate governance requirements and diverse shareholder demands, possibly shorter-term, there were risks of diluting the deeply ingrained sustainability practices. The Thai family-owned company led by Ms. Sineenuch Kokanutaporn questioned whether and how to keep family business values that have been part of its identity. The case prompts critical reflections on how the ESG framework, particularly its governance dimension, may provide solutions that address the family-business owners’ concerns: ensuring that strategic decision-making balances the global market and broader shareholders’ demands, enabling continued business growth, while keeping the long-standing foundational values and sustainability goals.

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Reporting for Large US Airports

This paper provides a novel approach to airport sustainability with a comparative analysis of frameworks presented by Airports Council International (ACI) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), a case study on environmental social governance (ESG) reporting for large US airports, a historical perspective and discussion regarding legal considerations, and sustainability metrics. Airport sustainability reporting provides numerous advantages, including enhanced transparency and accountability, and it also supports risk management, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, risk management, community engagement, and investor relations. There are 30 large hub airports in the US, and each one of these publishes information on sustainability, which may consist of a sustainability report, reports on sustainability related topics, or website information. Eight of these large US airports publish an ESG report. ESG reports are of increasing interest due to their use internationally and due to the role of ESG reports in investment decisions. This paper presents an analysis of the information contained in ESG reports published by US airports and compares the frame of reference used by airports that utilize UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their reporting. Case studies of ESG reports for Salt Lake City and Dallas Fort Worth Airports are presented to illustrate ESG reports, and the use of the SDG identified in these reports is compared the framework identified by Airports Council International (ACI) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The discussion of airport ESG reporting provides a thorough and contextual review of the topic and examines how this framework may evolve to address the increasing interest in ESG reporting for US airports. The information provided may be used by airports to improve their sustainability reporting.

Human Rights Violations in Global Value Chains: A Locally Grounded Governance Framework

Abstract Social governance models of global value chains (GVCs) are criticized as being dominated by advanced economy multinational corporations (MNCs) and primarily focusing on civil society organizations (CSOs) from developed countries, marginalizing the local agency, knowledge, and needs of rightsholders at the producing end of the GVC. These traditional governance frameworks often reinforce corporate power by framing compliance as a linear, top-down mandate. We address these shortcomings in the literature by proposing a locally grounded governance framework that accounts for vulnerable rightsholders who are often sidelined or underrepresented. The study is based on an inductive qualitative analysis of 54 interviews with CSOs operating in rightsholders’ home countries, MNCs’ home countries, and globally. Our study contributes in two major ways. First, we develop a theoretical model that conceptualizes a shift from a static, meeting-minimum-legal-standards, compliance-driven model to an adaptive, locally grounded GVC governance framework that is genuinely collaborative and can evolve with local insights. Second, we theorize a shift from a linear top-down framework that reinforces corporate power to an iterative process in which the dynamics of conflict and collaboration interact and shape the outcomes of the governance model.

Chinese economic development difference factors empirical study.

This article provides a detailed analysis and empirical support for the fiscal decentralization system, exploring its mechanisms in regulating the imbalance and insufficiency of regional economic development in China. The research found that fiscal decentralization, as a social governance tool, has a significant positive effect on narrowing the economic development gap between cities and addressing developmental disparities, particularly in the southern and vast inland regions of China. This effect provides important impetus for regional economic balance and comprehensive development. Secondly, mechanism testing revealed that technological support and the optimization of the administrative environment play crucial roles in promoting balanced regional economic development. By optimizing the industrial structure and strengthening the regulatory strategy for fiscal pressure, the positive impact of fiscal decentralization on economic development can be significantly enhanced. Furthermore, this study employs panel data threshold effect analysis to reveal that the level of tax competition moderates the effects of fiscal decentralization within a certain range, which in turn impacts the trajectory of economic development. These insights aim not only to leverage the fiscal decentralization system to alleviate and improve the uneven and inadequate economic development among regions in China and help achieve the goal of social governance, but also to provide a solid theoretical basis and practical guidance for the government in designing more precise and effective economic policies, which holds significant strategic importance and practical value.

Local Police Mediation in China – The Past, Present, and Future

China’s local police have been focusing on applying mediation as the main means to resolve disputes between citizens. Detailed studies in the following area are lacking: how did traditional mediation succeed in finding a place in the modern Chinese police law enforcement system? What should be done to improve the contemporary Chinese police mediation in light of political and social environments? Through research into the histories of the mediation and the police force, this article argues that mediation in China is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Mediation had been enacted as a main public security policy at the very emerging of modern police in China. In contemporary China, a diversified dispute resolution mechanism including police mediation has been established to tackle disputes for social governance. Meanwhile, Fengqiao Model in the new era is significantly influencing dispute resolution principles. Police mediation features the people-centered approach, justice, and integration of laws and morals. To tackle the challenges, ideology of officers, institutionalization of mediation, capacity building and digital transformation are the key fields to be enhanced.

How risk communication affects public trust in government: the moderating role of policy expectations.

Conspiracy narratives are a prevalent narrative framework in risk communication, often provoking public fear and defensive reactions, challenging the healthy interaction between governments and the public in social governance. Through two survey experiments, this study explores the effects of conspiracy narratives on public trust in government and the moderating role of policy expectations. In Study 1 (N = 119), conspiracy narratives increased public perceptions of and concerns about the risks of genetically modified (GM) foods. As a result, the public was more likely to expect the government to adopt a strictly restrictive control policy on GM foods. Study 2 (N = 119) further reveals that public trust in the government increases when the public perceives the government as implementing a restrictive policy on GM foods. Conversely, public trust declines if the government is perceived to promote GM foods actively. Policy satisfaction plays a fully mediating role in this process. The study reveals the influence mechanism of conspiracy narratives on government trust, offering both a theoretical basis and practical recommendations for effective government communication and the development of harmonious government-public relations.

A Catalyst for the Improvement of Inclusive Public Service: The Role of High-Speed Rail

Basic public service (BPS) serves as a crucial connection between governments and citizens, impacting the standard of living and well-being of the populace. Can High-Speed Rail (HSR) service incentivize local governments to improve the fiscal competition model of prioritizing production over public service to expand the supply of public services? This study empirically examines the impact of HSR service on the provision of BPS based on panel data from 282 cities in China during the period from 2008 to 2020. The findings indicate that improvements in HSR service significantly stimulate the provision of BPS, a result that withstands various robustness tests. An analysis of mechanisms reveals that HSR service enhances the provision of BPS by mitigating tax competition and fostering fiscal expenditure competition among local governments. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the positive impact of HSR is more pronounced in cities characterized by high levels of fiscal decentralization and financial autonomy. In western regions and peripheral cities, HSR service has a more pronounced effect on BPS provision. Ultimately, this study offers valuable policy insights for governments to optimize fiscal expenditure structures and bolster social governance capabilities.