Era Of Sustainable Development Research Articles

Women alone modern contraceptive use decision making and its correlates, evidence from PMA CS 2021 survey

BackgroundWomen alone contraceptive decisions making has become one of the top burring public health agenda. Despite Contraceptive method options are available and accessible, contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Ethiopia is not far beyond 41%. Evidences showed that the freedom of women to choose the contraceptive method they desired to use is one of the potential determinants for the sluggish pace of increase in contraceptive usage. In this era of sustainable development, determining the level of women own contraceptive use decision making and identifying its correlates is very critical for the ministries and relevant partners’ effort in tracking the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.2 by providing actionable evidence through informed decision-making with the aim of improving contraceptive uptake; reducing maternal mortality and improve newborn health.MethodsNationally representative cross-sectional data from Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) 2021 was used in this study. The sample was restricted among2446 married women who have been using or most recently used modern contraceptive method. Cell sample size adequacy was checked using a chi-square test. Frequency was computed to characterize the study participants. Multilevel binary logistics regression was used to identify factors associated with women own contraceptive use decision making. The findings were presented in a form of frequencies, percentage and as an odds ratio using 95% confidence interval. A p-value of 0.05 was used to declare significance.ResultsThis study revealed that higher than one in two women (59.49%; 95% CI: 57.7-61.38%) decide their contraceptive use by themselves. What is more interesting is that 1 in 16 women (6.06%) reported that they did not participated in their contraceptive use decision-making.-. Women aged 20 to 24 years; (AOR: 2.51 (1.04, 4.45)), women who stayed10 and above years in marriage; (AOR: 1.73 (1.08, 2.77)), whose husband and/or partner age is 41 and above years; (AOR: 2.14 (1.06, 4.31)) and those who obtained contraceptive method they desired; (AOR: 2.49 (1.36, 4.57)) had higher odds of deciding their current and/or recent contraceptive use by their own. On the other hand, women mixed feeling if they became pregnant at the time of the survey; (AOR: 0.6 (0.44, 0.91)), women who started using contraceptive at younger age, 19 to 24; (AOR: 0.6 (0.44, 0.81)), those who use long acting and/or permanent method; (AOR: 0.54 (0.41, 0.71)) and those married at younger age, 10 to 19 years; (AOR: 0.28 (0.09, 0.86)) had lower odds of independently deciding their current and/or most recent contraceptive use.Conclusion59% of women independently decide their contraceptive use which calls up on further improvement to enable each woman to decide by their own, with directing special focus for the 6.06% of women who reported no say in their contraceptive use decision. Activities targeting on enabling women to use the method they preferred, spacing their pregnancy, encouraging women to discuss with their husband on the time and type of contraceptive method they used, advocating and promoting marriage at least to be at the minimum age as indicate by the law and maintain the marriage duration as much as longer are hoped to improve women alone contraceptive use decision making to the fullest.

Digital Sustainability for Human Resource Management Canvas Meta-Synthesis Approach

In the era of Digital Transformation (DT) and Sustainable Development (SD), the pivotal role of Human Resources (HR) in addressing business challenges has become increasingly evident. These challenges directly impact different HR departments and processes, prompting a need for a strategic overhaul. HR management should continuously adapt its service delivery model to align with the business model and create a balance between internal and external organizational expectations and employee needs, considering the two fundamental challenges of digital transformation and sustainable development, in an agile manner. The critical role of sustainable human resource management in fostering overall business sustainability is evident. However, in many cases, HR management has failed to recognize and demonstrate its cost structure, revenue flow, and social and environmental benefits transparently for the business. This research focuses on presenting the sustainable digital human resource management canvas and its connection to the business canvas to achieve sustainability in the digital era. Employing a qualitative research methodology, this study conducts a meta-synthesis of two pivotal concepts-sustainable human resource management and digital human resource management- leveraging data from reputable databases including Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. Following meticulous screening and examination, a total of 17 articles from Q1-ranked journals were selected as the final articles for a more detailed and in-depth review. The findings from the meta-synthesis results consist of 5 dimensions and 23 components, ultimately presenting the sustainable digital human resource management canvas by modeling it after the business canvas. The distinct feature of this canvas, compared to other similar and conventional models, is the inclusion of individual sustainability in the value proposition and the creation of a digital value component, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data.

An interregional environmental assessment framework: revisiting environmental Kuznets curve in China.

Achieving the national emission reduction targets requires joint efforts of all jurisdictions, whose sustainable development is affected by complex economic and environmental interactions among regions. An interregional environmental assessment (IREA) framework is constructed for China using multiregional input-output techniques to unravel the carbon emission connections behind interregional economic activities. Then, consumption-based emission accounting is applied in sustainability assessment, in comparison with production-based environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) tests to examine the role of regional connections in shaping EKC. Empirical results expose significant asymmetric CO2 transfer among regions in China, where the Central and Western regions have become CO2 haven for the Eastern region. EKC is valid at the national level and manifests marked regional differences between production- and consumption-based curves. The pollution haven effect alters the EKC curve by expediting the emission peak in the developed Eastern region while delaying it in the developing Western region. Thus, revisiting EKCs in the IREA framework reveals that ignoring interregional connections would lead to misleading results. Only when both production- and consumption-based EKCs transcend their turning points can we claim that environmental governance has ushered in a new era of sustainable development.

Integrated cost accounting for quality and environmental protection in the context of sustainable development

ObjectivesPresentation of a modern approach to managing quality costs and environmental protection costs in the context of sustainable development requirements and actions taken in this area in the Polish economy.Material and methodsThe method of critical analysis of scientific literature in the field of quality cost management, environmental protection costs, and accounting was used. Induction and deduction methods were used. In the empirical part, research was conducted - interviews on the comprehensibility and usefulness of the integrated cost accounting for quality and environmental protection.ResultsThe article indicates that because traditional cost measurement accounts are characterized by low accuracy and low cost of measuring quality costs and environmental costs, it is reasonable to implement and use an integrated quality and environmental protection account, especially in the era of sustainable development requirements.ConclusionsThe added value of the article is an example of an integrated model of quality costing and environmental protection costs developed by the authors to be used in enterprises and the resulting conclusions from the conducted research, which can be a recommendation for practice.

Economic complexity, natural resources and economic progress in the era of sustainable development: Findings in the context of resource deployment challenges

In recent years discussion on natural resource curse goes beyond the growth measure to incorporate other development measures of which economic complexity forms a major part. To gauge how natural resource exploitation is determined, researchers and policy makers explore the major determinants of resource curse. Surprisingly, the discussion on the role of economic sophistication in impacting natural resources continues to be scant. Against the backdrop of the perceived gap, this study explores the association between economic complexity and natural resources. This study used linear and non-linear model specifications to explore the impact of economic complexity (ECI) on the natural resource utilization (mineral resources) for ten Newly Industrialized Countries (NICS). In addition to economic complexity, economic growth, human capital, foreign direct investment, and population density were used as control variables in this study. We hypothesize that the relationship between ECI and natural resource rent may have an inverted’ U′ shape, depending on the technological sophistication and complexity of the economic processes. The panel data spans the years 1975–2020. Novel estimation techniques, including cross-sectional dependence tests, panel unit root tests, and cointegration tests, were used in this study. To achieve robust inferences, the long-run estimation was performed using panel Quantile regression, pooled OLS, and System GMM. The research findings support the existence of the inverted ‘U' shaped across natural resource rent and economic complexity. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin, panel causality tests confirm bidirectional causality links across economic complexity and rent on natural resources, mineral resources, human capital, and population density. These findings urge policymakers to recommend comprehensive economic and natural resource deployment policies to achieve sustainability.

Breaking the Chains: Transforming Africa’s Economies through Sound Financial Management

The guide, “Breaking the Chains: Transforming Africa’s Economies through Sound Financial Management,” embarks on a comprehensive journey through the financial landscapes of African nations. It illuminates the pressing challenges born from poor public financial management while spotlighting a myriad of solutions. From the fundamental principles of transparency and accountability to the practical reforms reshaping budgeting, auditing, procurement, and revenue collection, this guide maps out a transformative course. Robust institutions, capacity building, and the role of technology take center stage, while anti-corruption measures fortify the quest for transparency and accountability. International support, monitoring and evaluation, and strategies for overcoming barriers stand as crucial partners in this journey. Amidst the challenges and roadblocks, the future of Africa is boundless, awaiting a new era of economic growth and sustainable development—a future where the chains of fiscal mismanagement are but a distant memory.

Leveraging environmental corporate social responsibility to promote green purchases: The case of new energy vehicles in the era of sustainable development

Leveraging on the theoretical integration of stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory, stakeholder theory, and self-consistency theory, an investigation is undertaken to explore the effectiveness of environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) in shaping green buying intentions using the world’s largest economy of new energy vehicles (NEVs), China, as a case. An analysis of data from 306 NEV owners in four Chinese cities demonstrated that ECSR directly and indirectly, via green trust and green brand image, shapes green purchasing intentions positively. However, green self-concept consistency was found to weaken the connections ECSR, green trust, and green brand image. From a theoretical perspective, this exploration enhances our understanding of environmentally-driven micro-CSR (individual-level CSR) by shedding light on the factors influencing consumers' intentions to engage in green consumption (new energy) of high involvement products (vehicles). Noteworthily, this examination uncovers the social-psychological mechanisms that drive these intentions and underscores the significance of maintaining consistency in self-concept, particularly within collectivist societies. From a practical standpoint, this research offers valuable guidance for marketing approaches, particularly in the NEV sector, thereby contributing to SDG7 on clean energy and SDG12 on responsible consumption and production.

Preface

Preface

Building a career in marketing communication in a sustainable development era: which key competencies are required?

Building a career in marketing communication in a sustainable development era: which key competencies are required?

Thoughts on the New Era of Co-Created and Shared Green Sustainable Development

Thoughts on the New Era of Co-Created and Shared Green Sustainable Development

Methodology for Researching Digital Diplomacy in the New Era of Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Methodology for Researching Digital Diplomacy in the New Era of Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Role of GDP in the Sustainable Growth Era

While there is a correlation between economic growth and the increase in living standards, economic theory is evident in the purpose of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measurement. GDP measures only the production capacity and economic growth, not the nation’s development, as often claimed by policymakers. Furthermore, as several studies show, by focusing on economic growth and neglecting the other two crucial systems, the ecosystem, and the social system, we will not be able to achieve economic growth in the future. Since the GDP was developed in 1937, it has faced criticism not only for its limitation related to its construction. Also, the concept of economic growth is currently being challenged and being replaced by the pursuit of sustainable development. Therefore, the role of GDP, as an economic growth indicator, in our economy needs to be clarified and re-assessed. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the usefulness of the GDP in the era of sustainable development. To achieve this, we investigated the historical development of various measures of economic growth, as well as the historical development of the GDP as an economic growth metric. Furthermore, we argue that the future of GDP should be in the multi-dimensional indicators, which are used to measure the sustainable development of a country, as opposed to a self-standing single-dimensional measure of economic growth. As a case study, we also construct two measures, based on Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) using the free online software ‘SuperDecisions: our Simple three-dimensional index of the nation’s growth and the enhanced holistic three-dimensional index – Holistic Nation’s Growth Index. Using the AHP method, we showcase the difference between the countries’ rankings if we consider only economic growth and if we focus on the country’s development more holistically. Our comparative study reveals that it is not enough to look only at three main systems, the economic, social, and ecosystem while assessing the countries’ development. It is necessary to also investigate and try to capture the relationships between those three main systems.

Ultra-high performance concrete versus ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete: Mechanical performance, microstructure, and ecological assessment

UHPC is a modern cement-based composite with exceptional mechanical characterizations and durability, while also being a high-cost and unsustainable composite. Therefore, ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete (UHPGC) was developed to achieve similar mechanical performance with more economic and ecological benefits. In this study, the engineering characteristics of UHPGC were compared to those of conventional UHPC. Flowability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and load-deflection behavior in flexural, were among the engineering properties compared. Microstructural investigations, including SEM-EDS, MIP, and XRD, as well as economic and ecological impacts, were also examined. The flowability of UHPGC was lower than that of UHPC, but the flowability was still relatively high; additionally, the setting times of geopolymer concrete were very fast compared to UHPC. The early compressive strength of UHPGC was 101 MPa at 7 days, higher than all UHPC, and 133 MPa at 28 days, lower than all UHPC. But, it was revealed that the production of UHPGC had lower CO2 emissions (up to 70%), embodied energy (up to 73%), and cost (up to 64%) than UHPC. Furthermore, the flexural and splitting tensile strengths of UHPGC were lower than the tensile strengths of UHPC. Microscopic investigations showed that the microstructures of UHPGC were more compact and homogeneous at 7 days than those of UHPC, but less compact and homogeneous after 28 days. The manufacturing of UHPGC also offers a sustainable method of industrial waste disposal. In the era of sustainable development, UHPGC could be considered an affordable and environmentally beneficial alternative to conventional UHPC.

Which Way to Go Now? Financing Economic Growth in the Sustainable Development Era

Our paper uses a novel methodology to reexamine the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the era of sustainable development. Our empirical procedure deals with both functional-form misspecification bias as well as bias from endogenous regressors. It also provides an estimate of the growth-finance relationship for every country-year observation, allowing us to examine the relationship of interest for various country groups, using a global sample of 133 countries during 1960–2015. Our results indicate that countries with weak institutions and a smaller-than-average banking sector will reap more benefits from bank-based financial systems. The impact of financial development on economic performance has enormous policy implications for international institutions that provide policy support to countries in their pursuit of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Management and Society 5.0

While technology and digital transformation are developing, today’s society is rapidly changing. In this context, current management and strategies are becoming outdated, which raises the need to adapt to new challenges and keep pace with innovation. One option that seeks to bring new solutions is the concept of Society 5.0 which combines technological progress and sustainable development, and attempts to achieve a balance between them, ensuring the well-being of all members of society.
 Society 5.0 emphasises the creation of socially beneficial solutions, human needs, and improving the quality of life, not just economic growth. Successful implementation of this concept requires quality management that is open to new mindsets, strategies, and approaches to management with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. In Industry 5.0, success depends more than ever on management’s ability to understand and address the challenges posed by new technologies. Therefore, it is necessary to think about the key skills and capabilities that a manager should have in order to successfully manage an organisation in the context of Society 5.0.
 The aim of this paper is to analyse the challenges associated with the management and implementation of the Society 5.0 concept, as well as to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in this area, and to provide an overview of the key factors for successful management in the context of Society 5.0. In the first part, the theoretical background of this paper will be set, which will be applied for the subsequent analysis. The theoretical part focuses specifically on the definition and description of Society 5.0, and the key elements of this concept. It also focuses on new approaches to management that are key to management in this area, as well as defines the role and importance of SWOT analysis in management and strategic planning.
 Based on a comparative analysis of relevant sources, the SWOT analysis will be performed in the practical part as a tool for assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in relation to the new concept of Society 5.0. The results of the analysis will be evaluated, summarised, and finally recommendations will be made. This text will be useful for managers and executives who want to better adapt themselves to the new era of digital transformation and sustainable development.

Is it worthwhile to implement the reform in green GDP accounting?---- Analysis From an ARMA-based Model

Compared with the internationally accepted national income accounting method, green GDP takes environmental governance and protection costs into account economic indicators, which is of great significance to the new era of sustainable development. On the premise of comprehensive consideration of economic and environmental benefits, we predict the green GDP growth curve after the reform through the time series method. We find that the reform of accounting methods can indeed promote sustainable development and have a more positive impact on economic development itself.

성인교육 분야 국제개발협력에서 임파워먼트 논의의 변화

Purpose: This study aims to explore how the concept of empowerment has been discussed over time by exploring the development process of empowerment discourse, focusing on the field of adult education in international education development cooperation. In addition, it studies the characteristics of change in terms of the content of the discourse and examines the context that influenced the change. Originality: Despite the social movement origin of empowerment, the instrumentalist meaning prevails and the discussions have shifted to emphasizing capacity building of individuals in international development cooperation. It is necessary to explore whether these changes have also occurred in the field of adult education, which has traditionally been interested in the issue of power and the liberation of minorities. This process is important because changes in meaning can affect the participants' lifeworld through policy and project implementation. Methodology: Discourse analysis was applied as a research method, and the conceptual discussions of Laclau and Mouffe's discourse theory were used throughout the research process. Discourse analysis was conducted on UNESCO's official published materials related to empowerment and adult education published from 1984 to 2022. Result: From the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, when the radical meaning of empowerment diffused in the field of international development cooperation, the social transformation meaning of empowerment was also emphasized in UNESCO adult education discourse. From the late 1990s to the early 2010s, when the international community's focus on poverty eradication and human development expanded, discussions on empowerment related to expanding individual capacities, choices, and opportunities increased. After the mid-2010s, the era of sustainable development, the empowerment discourse that ordered learners to be competent in global challenges has spread. Conclusion and Implication: Empowerment has been a floating signifier that flowed without a fixed meaning in UNESCO adult education discourse, and the equivalent relationship of identities constituting the discourse has also changed from time to time. However, since the concept of empowerment with social transformation meaning is still important in the practice of international development cooperation, this study proposed responses in two directions. First, efforts are made to reconstruct the equivalent relationship of identities that creates the discourse of empowerment. Second, the discovery of alternative terms reveals the critical problem consciousness raised by empowerment, which paid attention to the crisis of inequality and the problem of power distribution.

Nested Fabric Adaptation to New Urban Heritage Development

Old urban reform usually reactivates the urban fabric in a new era of sustainable development. However, what remains of the former fabric and how it interacts with the new one often inspires curiosity. How the old residents adapt their lives to the new layout should be explored qualitatively and quantitatively. This research aimed to assess the old and new fabrics in the downtown area of Keelung, Taiwan, by considering the interactions between truncated layout, proportion, and infill orientation in the mature and immature interfaces. According to the historical reform map made in 1907, the newly constructed area occupied the old constructed area in seven downtown blocks. On average, the area composed of new buildings ranged from 135.60% to 239.20% of the old area, and the average volume of the buildings reached a maximum of 41.72 m when compared to the old buildings in place prior to the reform. It seems that the new fabric purposefully maintained the old temples at the centers of the blocks. However, the old alleys, which still remain within these blocks, have been significantly overloaded with services and have become auxiliary utility spaces for the in-block residences. With regard to the part of the fabric that was truncated or reoriented by new streets, the modification could also be easily found on the second skin. A physical model analysis used a UAV 3D cloud model and QGIS® to verify the axes, hierarchies, entrances, open spaces, and corners in the commission store block and temple blocks. We found that the 3D point model and historical maps presented a convincing explanation of the evolved fabric from the past to the present. The stepwise segmentation visualizes the enclosed block inside a block on the historical maps and according to the present sections. We found that new roles for old alleys have evolved behind the new fabric.

A Bibliometric Analysis on Fuel Prices Fluctuations and Tourism under the Era of Sustainable Development

The tourism industry has great potential for growth in any economy. Its excessive input-to-output ratio has a significant favorable effect on the economy. Oil costs are affecting the tourism industry because oil fuel prices are a direct factor influencing the tourist industry both demand and supply. There has been demonstrated how the price of petroleum has affected transportation, aviation, and tourism has varied. So, for this purpose, the paper uses a bibliometric analysis method based on Scopus statistics, along with R studio productive methods and Vos viewer for visual results to determine the current trends within the along with oil price's consequence on the tourist industry. The findings used Descriptive analyses, thematic maps, and current trends of issues like oil price shocks and tourism operations to predict the frequency of courses. Lastly, by offering new research directions in sustainable tourism, this bibliometric analysis helps us to draw a conclusion to study.

Skill components of higher education in the era of sustainable development: an analytical study among university students in Qatar

Introduction The present study investigates the status of education for sustainable development (ESD) as an approach applied to higher education. This study proposes cognitive, behavioral, and socio-emotional learning as the three dimensions of ESD. It examines the extent to which the current curriculum and educational structures applied by Qatar University (QU) contribute to sustainable development (SD) skills in students' attitudes. Methods Data from 319 students were collected. Factor analysis was performed to regroup skill items within the consistent dimensions of 16 core skills. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between core skills and the five SD skills. Findings Five logistic regression models were investigated. Model 1 found two predictors that only increase the odds of innovative thinking skills. Model 2 detected five predictors that increase the odds of critical thinking skills. Model 3 defined three predictors that increase the odds of resolving problem skills. Model 4 mentioned four predictors that increase the odds of communication/coordination skills. Model 5 showed two predictors that increase the odds of decision-making skills. Research implications This study introduces new core skills that have been reclassified based on students' real-world experiences. Such findings may help target specific skills and bring significant changes in higher education outcomes.