Sustainable Socio-economic Development Research Articles

Exploring the Driving Forces of Vegetation Greening on the Loess Plateau at the County Scale

China has implemented several ecological projects in the Loess Plateau region to address severe land degradation and soil erosion. Accurately assessing ecological restoration and its driving factors remains challenging. Previous studies in this area concentrated on driving factors have mainly focused on natural factors at the regional or watershed scale, with limited consideration of socioeconomic factors at the county scale. In this study conducted in Huanglong County on the Loess Plateau, the focus was to fill the gaps in previous research and provide insights into the socioeconomic driving forces behind vegetation greening. Remote sensing image data (NDVI) from 1999 to 2019 were used to analyze vegetation greenness dynamics in the region. Five socioeconomic variables were considered, including afforestation intensity, deforestation intensity, agricultural intensity, village intensity, and road intensity layers, to characterize the impact of afforestation, agriculture, and urbanization policies. The RESTREND (residual trends) method was employed to assess the relative importance of climate and human activities on vegetation dynamics. This study found that temperature–NDVI relationships are more suitable for building RESTREND models than precipitation–NDVI relationships. Human activity was the main driver of vegetation dynamics, contributing 62% compared to 38% from climate change. Agricultural practices and afforestation were found to have a positive impact on ecological restoration, while deforestation and urbanization had no significant impact. These findings highlight a conceptual framework for understanding the intricate relationship between ecological restoration, climatic factors, and human activity on the Loess Plateau. This study suggests that significant progress has been made in ecological restoration through human efforts in combating land degradation. However, it emphasizes the need to strengthen natural conservation efforts and gradually transition toward restoration processes driven by natural forces for sustainable socioeconomic development. The methodology used in this study can be applied to explore the driving forces of ecological restoration in other regions facing human-driven land degradation.

How does regional economic integration affect carbon emission efficiency? Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization promote economic growth as well as bring carbon emissions, which seriously threaten the eco-environment and socioeconomic sustainable development. Facing increasing resource constraints, improving carbon emissions efficiency (CEE) is conducive to promote coordinated development of economy and environmental protection. In recent years, regional economic integration (REI) has rapidly developed. It can not only promote factors flow between regions but also achieve industrial and economic agglomeration. However, few studies have been reported in the literature about the relationship between the REI and CEE. In this study, we first illustrate how the REI influences CEE in theory, then take the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) as a case study to conduct empirical research. The results show that (1) the overall CEE value in the YRD has exhibited an upward trend from 2000 to 2020, and its spatial distribution has revealed a significant auto-correlation pattern. (2) On the whole, the REI act a noteworthy positive impact on CEE. When considering types of cities, it is found to have significant positive impacts for the CEE in economically developed cities, while it exhibits a negative impact in the less-developed ones. (3) Upgrading industrial structure and increasing per capita GDP can promote the CEE, but hinder its growth in surrounding areas. Our findings suggest that the government should formulate a unified overall plan to facilitate REI development and establish a modern industrial system of clean and low-carbon to promote regional sustainable development.

Photovoltaic systems promote grassland restoration by coordinating water and nutrient uptake, transport and utilization

The extensive use of fossil fuels puts ecological and economic coordinated development at risk. Photovoltaic systems relieve the pressure of resource extraction and energy generation on climate change, and their installation and module operation affect vegetation productivity and grassland restoration by changing the microenvironment and ecosystem processes. However, it is still unclear whether plants adapt to these changes in photovoltaic systems to sustain their growth. Here, combined stable isotope techniques with plant traits, plant adaptations to photovoltaic systems at different scales were analyzed from the perspectives of water and nutrient sources, uptake, transport, and utilization. The results showed that photovoltaic systems increased water uptake by the dominant species Leymus chinensis from the top 10 cm of the soil and the aboveground biomass. This was associated with strong plasticity of roots and conduction tissues, which improved resource uptake from the fertile surface soil and transport within the plant, and promoted photosynthesis and leaf water loss by inducing stomatal opening. Different from fixed photovoltaic systems, tracking photovoltaic systems improved ecosystem water use efficiency and surface soil nutrient availability by reducing soil temperature. Tilting tracking photovoltaic systems especially promoted biomass accumulation and grassland restoration. The study suggested that photovoltaic systems promoted vegetation restoration of grassland ecosystem in semi-arid region through the water and nutrient coordination and the carbon-water coupling, and provides a solution for reasonable planning of photovoltaic industry and sustainable socio-economic development.

Assessing ecological health in a semi-arid basin: a case study of the Wei River Basin, China.

A healthy water ecosystem within a river basin is essential for maintaining ecological security, preserving species diversity, and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development. Unfortunately, human activities have significantly threatened the health of water ecosystems in various basins. Consequently, timely restoration and targeted protection of damaged river ecosystems have become crucial objectives in watershed management. As a prerequisite and cornerstone for river protection and management, assessing river ecological health has emerged as a primary focus in current research. In this study, we selected the Wei River Basin, a representative area of the Yellow River Basin, as our research subject. We identified multiple influencing factors, including society, biology, water quality, and habitat, which collectively impact this semi-arid region. To assess the overall impact of these factors on ecological health, we developed a comprehensive River Ecological Health Assessment Index (REHAI) system. The research findings indicate that the Wei River system, as a whole, is currently in a healthy state, while the Jing and Luo River systems are classified as sub-healthy. Furthermore, we observed variations within the Wei River system itself; the upper reaches of the Wei River exhibit higher levels of health compared to the middle reaches, whereas the water environment in the lower reaches is the most compromised. This degradation can be attributed to downstream subsidence, increased pollution, and rapid urbanization. By establishing a river ecosystem health assessment methodology and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the health status of river ecosystems, this paper puts forward management recommendations for river basins. These findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of water resources in river basins and promote the harmonious coexistence of humanity and nature.

Service-oriented supply chain: what do we know about its risks?

ABSTRACT This study identifies the risks entailed in a service-oriented supply chain. By employing supply chain mapping, contingency, and Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) theories to elaborate a picture of the current knowledge, we were able to summarise and categorise the various risks into three main levels of cause. Next, these literature-based risks were narrowed down into a specific industry context and were then tested and confirmed using exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses to form an industry-oriented RBS for the construction business. The data were collected from 195 firms who participated in a large-scale survey sponsored by the Japanese Government to promote sustainable socio-economic development for the ASEAN region. As a result, seven risk categories related to demand, supply, operations, information, finance, time (delays) and external sources (human-made or natural-related) were identified and will be a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners. Furthermore, the relationship between identified risk and supply chain performance was explored. This paper is the first to introduce the concept and characteristics of a service-oriented supply chain by using a systematic review combined with a bibliometric mapping of the literature and an empirical study to generate both generic and industry-oriented RBSs in a single study.

РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ИНИЦИАТИВЫ ПО ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ ПОДДЕРЖКЕ МАЛОГО И СРЕДНЕГО ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСТВА В РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ

This work is dedicated to the exploration of regional initiatives for state support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Russian Federation. SMEs play a crucial role in the country’s economic development, and the government actively promotes their growth through various programs and initiatives. Despite the existence of a complex set of financial, informational, and legal instruments at the national level, regions devise specific actions tailored to the unique needs of the labor market, resource base, and other factors. The objective of this work is to identify the characteristics of regional initiatives for state support of SMEs, taking into account both internal and external factors influencing their success. To achieve this goal, a combination of general scientific and specific methods is employed, including content analysis and comparative analysis. The research findings indicate that regional initiatives for state support can significantly contribute to the development of SMEs. However, the success of such initiatives depends on multiple factors, including effective management, accessibility of financial resources, and the level of entrepreneur involvement. Scope of application of the research results: activities of regional authorities, entrepreneurs, researchers in the field of entrepreneurship theory and practice, addressing issues related to the support of small and medium-sized businesses. The conclusions of this research underscore the importance of collaboration between government entities and entrepreneurs in creating effective mechanisms to support SMEs, reinforcing the position of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Russian Federation’s economy, and fostering its sustainable socio-economic development.

The Dynamics of Fine-Grained Firm–Stakeholder Contentions and Synergies in the Process of Sustainable Development: The Case of Cassava-Based Beer Production in Africa

Sustainable development (SD) involves a massive variety of stakeholders with differing objectives and values, and consequently comes with tensions and tradeoffs among such stakeholders. Yet, at the same time, these stakeholders often manage to create win–wins and synergies. Prior studies have not fully addressed the question of how stakeholders manage conflicts while creating synergies in the process of sustainable development. Focusing on the socioeconomic dimensions of sustainable development, we offer an empirical study on the tension-managing and synergy-creating process of sustainable development in the setting of SABMiller’s cassava-based beer production project in Africa. The key approach in our study is to systematically capture fine-grained firm-stakeholder synergistic and contentious interactions that took place in specific situations over time throughout the production project. We then weave those fine-grained interactions together to create a process view of the project. Based on the process view through the contention–synergy lens, our study reveals some key insights on the internal dynamics of the process of sustainable development along socioeconomic dimensions, contributing to the current literature on socioeconomic sustainable development.

The Management Efficiency of the Enterprise: the Problem of Finding Ways to Improve and Evaluate

This article provides a brief overview of the reports presented at the plenary session of the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Eurasian Economic Integration and Sustainable Development in the context of global transformations”, held in April 2023 in Yerevan; the main coordinator of the conference was the Krasnodar Foundation “Scientific and Educational Initiatives of Kuban”. The most significant provisions of the reports presented at the conference in the context of promoting Eurasian integration and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development in the context of global transformation are presented. Both common and controversial points have been identified in the positions of most of the authors of the reports regarding the goals and tools for intensifying integration processes and revealing the possibilities of implementing sustainable development strategies in the post-Soviet space, the formation of an updated and effective nationally oriented economic model. The largest number of productive ideas and practice-oriented recommendations on the issues discussed were expressed regarding the opportunities and prospects for strengthening the economies of Russia and Armenia. It seems that the proposals expressed in the reports and the analysis contained in them, as well as the positive experience of managing in a ­modern volatile economy demonstrated during the discussions, are of significant interest for studying, developing and possible application both conceptually and practically for those who are interested in scientific and organizational and managerial aspects of modern integration in the context of sustainable development.

Опыт зарубежных стран по ускоренному социально- экономическому росту и его возможное использование для России

Socio-economic development is a vital strategy for the Russian Federation. In the 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, its gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by approximately 20 %. The average GDP in EU countries has increased by halve for the same period. The US GDP has doubled while some post-socialist European countries have demonstrated a 2.5-time increase, not to mention developing countries (3-5 times) and China (12.7 times). Between 2013 and 2022, Russia’s GDP per capita stayed the same, probably because of the Crimea population. The gross fixed capital formations decreased slightly, and the volume of retail trade turnover and real income of the population went down more sharply. Compared to the Soviet period, Russia has been losing in all indicators of international ratings. Life expectancy, which is one of the main social indicators, keeps decreasing with every decade. In fact, it has been seven years since Russia’s population started to decline. Part one of this article examines the outstanding experience of China, Japan, and South Korea, which have transited from seemingly hopeless backwardness to stable economic and social growth in 30-40 years. However, these countries are so unique in their cultural and historical development that their experience cannot be applied to Russia directly. Part two examines the phenomena of Reaganomics in the USA and Thatcherism in the UK, which allowed each of these countries to overcome a decade of stagnation and crisis to resume socio-economic development based on science, technology, and innovations. Part three examines some cases of large countries that have demonstrated high growth rates over the past ten years despite complex situations in the global economy. The objective was to define the specific strategies these countries appealed to in order to combat the existing negative trends in economic development. The conclusion sums up the useful experience Russia can draw from the abovementioned cases. The author introduces a strategy for accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development of Russia though 2035.

Optimizing the Valuation and Implementation Path of the Gross Ecosystem Product: A Case Study of Tonglu County, Hangzhou City

Ecosystem products and services are fundamental to human survival and development. The gross ecosystem product can be defined as the total value of products and services provided by ecosystems for human wellbeing and sustainable socioeconomic development. This includes the value of production system products, ecosystem regulation services, and ecosystem cultural services. The valuation of gross ecosystem product offers crucial technical support for constructing mechanisms by which to realize them, and it holds significant importance in promoting the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. In this study, we introduce the definition and accounting methods of the gross ecosystem product and explore the application of the gross ecosystem product and ecosystem asset accounting in ecological benefit assessment, using Tonglu County in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, as an example. Finally, we provide recommendations by which to strengthen gross ecosystem product accounting and explore mechanisms for realizing ecological values based on this foundation. The results indicate that in 2021, the total gross ecosystem product value of Tonglu County reached CNY 55.129 billion, equivalent to 1.33 times the gross domestic product of that year. Among the various services, regulatory services contributed the most to the total ecological products, with climate regulation being the largest contributor at CNY 27.199 billion, accounting for 49.34%. Tonglu County boasts abundant natural resources, which hold significant value. By conducting an audit of the total ecological products, we can precisely determine the value of the ecosystem. This aids relevant departments in estimating the value of ecological products in Tonglu County’s ecosystem. Such information can support the formulation of ecological protection and sustainable development policies in Tonglu County, while also serving as a reference for estimating the total ecological products and enhancing the ecological value in other counties.

Стратегические ориентиры социально-экономического роста качества жизни и обеспечения качества питания населения

Abstract. The purpose is to form strategic guidelines for socio-economic growth of the quality of life and ensuring the quality of nutrition of the population. Methodology and methods. In the course of the study, both general and universal methods were used (sociological survey, ranking, systematization, classification and interpretation, analysis and synthesis), including the method of comparison in the development and justification of the relationship of life quality indicators with the quality of nutrition and the tasks of ensuring food security of Russia. Results. The article considers the evolution of approaches to the level and quality of life where the role and importance of a person in sustainable socio-economic development comes to the fore. The analysis of the approaches used by the international community to assess the quality of life made it possible to correlate indicators and indicators to the category of nutrition quality, as well as to build a relationship with the criteria and objectives of food security in Russia, enshrined in the Doctrine. The authors conducted a sociological survey among the urban and rural working-age population of the Sverdlovsk region to identify factors that form the conditions of the quality of life and the quality of nutrition. The scientific novelty consists in identifying and constructing a classification of the relationship between the criteria of the quality of life and the quality of nutrition with the tasks of food security in Russia. And also in the formation of an evidence base for the dependence of structural indicators of the level and quality of life in the hierarchy of values of a household and an individual.

A study on matching supply and demand of ecosystem services in the Hexi region of China based on multi-source data.

To achieve the best management of the ecosystem and sustainable socioeconomic development, it is crucial to clarify the matching relationship between the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs). Four types of ESs were chosen for the Hexi region in this study: food supply, carbon sequestration, water yield, wind erosion control and sediment retention. We assessed the supply-demand and matching relationships of different ESs using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Service and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, the ESs supply-demand ratio and the four-quadrant model. Moreover, we also analyzed the supply-demand ratio of integrated ESs and their cold spots. The findings suggest that (1) from 2000 to 2020, the average supply of food supply, carbon sequestration, water yield, wind erosion control and sediment retention increased by 44.31t/km2, 128.44t/hm2, 14,545.94m3/km2 and 0.14kg/m2 respectively, which showed a spatial pattern of "high in the southeast and low in the northwest". The average demand for food supply and carbon sequestration increased by 1.33t/km2 and 0.32t/hm2 respectively, while the average demand for water yield and wind erosion control and sediment retention decreased by 2997.25m3/km2 and 1.19kg/km2 respectively. The spatial distribution is consistent with the layout of population density, production and residential areas, and fragile ecological areas. (2) The supply-demand ratio of food supply, carbon sequestration and water yield is greater than 0.095, which is in a state of oversupply, and the supply-demand ratio of wind erosion control and sediment retention is less than 0, which is in a state of shortage; all ESs are mainly in low-low spatial matching areas, mainly concentrated in the desert areas of the northwest in the Hexi region. (3) The supply-demand ratio of integrated ESs increased by 0.024, and the proportion of cold spots and sub-cold spots was more than 50% and concentrated in the northwest, while hot spots and sub-hot spots accounted for only about 16%, mainly distributed in the southern Qilian Mountains and some oasis areas.

Spatial distributions and multi-factor driving mechanism of landslide in southern Liaodong Peninsula

Coastal areas are characterized by high levels of urbanization and also the most active and highly sensitive to geological activities. Due to the impact of global climate change, landslides occur frequently in coastal areas, which have significantly impacted the sustainable socio-economic development of the region. Therefore, studying the spatial distribution of landslides and the factors that drive them holds immense practical significance for the geohazards prevention and mitigation work and optimization of ecological security patterns in coastal areas. This study takes the southern Liaodong Peninsula as the study area and analyzes the spatial distribution characteristics and influence mechanism of landslides. We first applied the Getis-Ord Gi*, kernel density analysis techniques, and Ripley’s K function to explore the spatial distribution characteristics of landslides in the study area at different scales. Then, we employed the information value method to test for the linkage relationships between the driving factors and landslides. Finally, we utilized the geographical detector to reveal the potential impacts and interaction of the driving factors on landslides. The results showed that: (1) landslides in the Southern Liaodong Peninsula exhibit strong spatial clustering characteristics, and have a spatial scale effect; (2) the high susceptibility areas are mainly concentrated in the southern hilly regions and the mountainous regions in the northern parts of the study area; (3) The information value method reveals that there is an optimal combination of factors driving landslides. (4) The factor detector analysis reveals that the primary driver of landslide spatial distribution is the geomorphological types (q-value of 39.10%). (5) The interaction detector indicates that the interplay of all driving factor pairs exhibited an enhanced effect, which is not a simple superposition effect but bivariate and non-linear. The collective influence of natural factors and human activities holds a more substantial influence over landslide development and distribution. The research offers guidance for the execution of landslide prevention initiatives and the establishment of preservation policies for the ecological environment in the southern Liaodong Peninsula region.

Cocoa, Palm Tree, and Cassava Plantations among Smallholder Farmers: Toward Policy and Technological Efficiencies for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in Southern Nigeria

This study is basically and centrally focused on the review of the extant literature in exploring the challenge of the under-utilization of natural fertile land for the cultivation and farming of different crops such as cocoa, palm tree, and cassava, which remain an important sector of the economy for sustainable socio-economic development in the southern part of Nigeria. The review of the cursory literature is necessary to bridge the gap in the existing body of knowledge, especially by addressing the less attention paid to exploring the non-oil sector of the economy such as cocoa, palm tree, and cassava as well as connecting policy and agro-technology to maximize agricultural productivity for the purpose of sustainable socio-economic development. The primary objective of this study is to explore cocoa, palm tree, and cassava plantations among smallholder farmers in order to enhance sustainable socio-economic development in the country. The methodology used in this study is a systematic literature review (SLR) cum content analysis (CA) of secondary sources or relevant literature whereby six themes were generated and analyzed. A consistent approach was used in order to establish exhaustive searching strategies and single-line search strategies such as using field codes and parentheses as part of a systematic literature review. The results indicated that smallholder farmers have been actively partaking in cocoa plantation, and the government has been supportive of them in this regard in order to achieve sustainable socio-economic development. In addition, agricultural transformation contributes to economic diversification through innovative policy and capacity building among cocoa, palm tree, and cassava farmers in the country, which culminates in improving the overall welfare of the smallholder farmers in attaining sustainable socio-economic development. In conclusion, it is noteworthy to say that giving support, especially cocoa, palm tree, and cassava seedlings, to smallholder farmers can be instrumental in bridging the vacuum created by poverty and unemployment which could be regarded as mechanisms for attaining sustainable development. The importance of the study was manifested in the practical aspect of giving concrete support to the smallholder farmers, and the innovativeness of the study is reflected in the advocacy for the efficiencies and effectiveness of agricultural policy and technology integration into the sector. It is therefore suggested that interventions of individual philanthropists, government, and international communities will boost the morale and resilience of the farmers toward enhancing cocoa, palm tree, and cassava production in order to enhance sustainable socio-economic development among smallholder farmers in particular and to maximize national economy growth in general.

Nigerian eSports and Video Gaming as the Next Economic Frontier

As the internet and digital tools become more accessible, video gaming enthusiasts are emerging worldwide. Esports refers to video game competitions involving professional players using acquired skills to win. Nigeria generated an estimated 46.5 million gamers in 2021. This study uses mixed methods to explore the Nigerian esports landscape and the factors that limit its growth. 390 young Nigerian gamers responded to surveys, and four esports entrepreneurs were interviewed. Through the uses, gratifications, and media economics theories, the findings revealed that young Nigerians are participating and earning a living from video gaming across virtual and physical arenas in Nigeria. Other young Nigerians are enthusiastic about esports; however, the industry requires an infrastructural, policy, technical and visibility drive towards actualization. I recommend that actionable steps should go beyond immediate revenue generation by also deepening the development of esports in Nigeria towards sustainable socioeconomic development.

Pengaruh Indeks Gini Rasio, Indeks Kemahalan Konstruksi, Pengeluaran PerkapitaTerhadap Indeks Pembangunan Manusia (IPM)

In recent years, the persistent issue of economic inequality, represented by the Gini Ratio, has garnered significant attention. This research explores the nuanced relationship between Gini Ratio and HDI, shedding light on how disparities in income distribution impact human development outcomes. The findings of this research have profound implications for policymakers and stakeholders. Understanding the intricate connections between economic inequality, infrastructure development, and individual spending habits can inform targeted policy interventions. By addressing these underlying factors, governments can design more effective strategies to enhance HDI, uplift marginalized communities, and foster sustainable socio-economic development. This comprehensive analysis contributes significantly to the existing body of knowledge, providing a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors shaping human development. As nations strive for progress, this research serves as a valuable resource, guiding policymakers toward evidence-based decisions that prioritize the well-being and prosperity of their citizens.

Sustainable socio-economic development model: Implementation through regional ICT potential assessment

Purpose of the study is the theoretical substantiation of sustainable socio-economic development model with realization of human potential, and its practical implementation through the assessment of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) potential at regional level. Novelty lies in generalization of provisions of the proposed model of sustainable socio-economic development with realization of human potential as well as substantiating of implementation of this model through relevant tools in context of digitalization. Identified following results: 1) systematized theoretical approaches to modeling sustainable human development and formation of the author's model of sustainable development with the realization of human potential; 2) assessed the potential of regions of the Republic of Belarus in the field of ICT within three areas: access, use and skills; 3) compared received positions of the regions with their positions in terms of the value of the Gross Regional Product (GRP), which allowed to conclude that level of development of ICT potential influences the economic growth of regions and state. It is proposed to build the potential of the regions of Belarus in the field of ICT, which will ensure their sustainable socio-economic development, while achieving goals set within proposed model of socio-economic sustainable development with realization of human potential.

Evaluation and regulation strategy for ecological security in the Tarim River Basin based on the ecological footprint

Population growth, oasis expansion, and increased consumption of water and fossil energy pose a significant threat to the ecological security of the Tarim River Basin (TRB). However, single-factor assessments and traditional ecological footprint models limit the ability to compare ecological security across prefectures, and existing studies neglected renewable resources in the ecological security regulation strategies. This study constructed TRB's ecological footprint accounts, analyzed the status of the sustainable development of the watershed in combination with the landscape ecological risk index, and explored the strategies and feasibility of watershed ecological security regulation based on multi-objective planning and multi-scenario simulation. The results are as follows: 1) the ecological deficit of the basin has expanded by approximately 1.79 times since the beginning of 21st century, with the eastern part of the basin being at higher ecological risk. Overall, the annual decrease in per capita ecological carrying capacity was 0.85%, while the annual increase in per capita ecological footprint was 32.35%. 2) Fossil energy dominates the inter-annual variation in the ecological footprint of the watershed; its contributions to the total ecological footprint significantly increased from 9.55% to 71%. 3) On the basis of increasing crop yields and optimizing cropping structure, fully utilizing solar energy resources, increasing cultivated land by 15% or reducing fossil energy by 50% will improve the ecological security of the watershed. This study represents an important supplement to ecological security assessments of inland river basins in extreme arid regions, such as the TRB, and provides insights into ecological security regulation and sustainable socioeconomic development in such regions.

Interactions of socioecological factors on the supply–demand balance of ecosystem services in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

A comprehensive understanding of how socioecological factors influence multiple ecosystem services (ESs) may provide stakeholders with a management tool to coordinate economic development and environmental protection. However, previous studies have focused more on the supply side compared with the demand of ESs. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms for the changes in the supply–demand balance of ESs and their multiple drivers remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, an integrated theoretical framework was developed to assess the interactions of socioecological factors, including land use and cover, the social economy, climate, and topography, with the variations in ES supply, demand, and balance, which were mapped at the city scale in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). A variance inflation factor (VIF) was employed to detect the multicollinearity of the factors, and the sum of Akaike weights was used to simplify the driving factors and identify essential driving factors. We employed variation partitioning analysis (VPA) to reveal the effects of unique and combined drivers on ES supply, demand and balance. The results revealed that undersupply cities (11.93% of the area) were concentrated within the three national urban agglomerations and increased in area from upstream to downstream, whereas oversupply cities (88.07%) were distributed mainly in the surroundings of the urban agglomerations. According to the VPA, the essential driving factors effectively explain the variation in the ES supply, demand, and balance in the YREB. More importantly, these driving factors were simplified with no significant decrease in explanatory power. In oversupply cities, the ES changes were determined based on socioeconomic factors (urbanization rate and population density), land use/land cover (cropland, woodland, and unused land), and their interactions. In undersupply cities, population density (PD) explained the majority of the variation in ESs. However, the effects of climate and topography on ESs were more prominent at the scale of all cities in the YREB. In addition, PD displayed a significant negative correlation with ES supply and balance, but was positively related to ES demand in the undersupply cities. These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the effects of the interactions among socioecological factors on the supply–demand balance of ESs. This study is informative for human well-being and sustainable socioeconomic development in the region.

“ENHANCING LEARNING POTENTIAL: INVESTIGATING MARKETING STUDENTS’ BEHAVIORAL INTENTIONS TO ADOPT CHATGPT”

ABSTRACT The rapid proliferation of the Internet has sparked a resurgence of attention toward the function of novel artificial intelligence technologies in the higher education. The effective adoption of recent advancements in human-computer interaction is crucial for inclusive education and innovation, resulting in sustainable socioeconomic growth and development. Therefore, the present investigation focuses to examine various factors that exert an influence on acceptance and use of ChatGPT by marketing students. The research’s significance lies in the integrating the concept of system flexibility into the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. An adapted questionnaire was administered to gather information, and statistical procedures were conducted on 309 valid responses. The study’s results revealed that habit was the most significant predictor of behavioral intention, with performance expectancy and effort expectancy following closely behind. However, the research shows that perceived risk is not a vital factor for marketing students, as they exhibit a heightened sense of control in regulating their online behavior. Besides, the implications presented in this study hold great significance for policymakers, educators, and top-level management personnel within higher education institutions to evaluate and update existing education policies to accommodate the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT into higher education.