Western Regions Of China Research Articles

Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum sensitivity of a continental lake basin from geochemical records of the Fushun Basin, Northeastern China

The dating of continuous Eocene sediments in the Fushun Basin, NE China, provides a good opportunity to study the evolution of the land paleoclimate during extreme high-temperature events in mid-latitude regions. Here, the lower part of the Eocene Xiloutian Formation in the Fushun Basin was sampled, and isotope geochemistry, element geochemistry, organic geochemical analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and sediment color analysis were conducted to determine the evolution of paleoclimate in the continental lake basin during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) period. The oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope data indicated the presence of phases during the MECO, with 401.5–374.3 m (41.2–40.42 Ma) representing the main stage and 374.3–371.2 m (40.42–40.32 Ma) the recovery stage. In addition, evaluation of the opening and closing of lakes using δ18O and δ13C showed that the lakes in the lower part of the Xiloutian Formation in the Fushun Basin are currently in a transition period between open and closed. The reconstructed paleotemperature and precipitation in the lower part of the Xiloutian Formation were characterized by an initial high trend followed by a low trend, with the highest values of both occurring during the main MECO stage. The lower part of the Xiloutian Formation is characterized by an oxidative oxygen environment of brackish water, and MECO events did not affect the salinity and redox state of the water. However, the total organic carbon (average 5.24%) in the dark mudstone during the main MECO stage was significantly higher than that during the cooling period (average 4.67%), indicating that the MECO promoted carbon fixation and enrichment of organic matter. Climate comparison showed that the climatic types in eastern and western regions of China during the Eocene were similar. Furthermore, climatic evolution may be influenced by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, and the retreat of the inland proto Paratethys Sea.

The Position and Role of Artistic Literacy in Undergraduate Elementary Education Major

Artistic literacy is one of the key components of implementing quality education in schools, and art education serves as the primary pathway to improve the artistic literacy of undergraduate elementary school teachers. The core objective of art education is to cultivate aesthetic creativity. Currently, the state of art education in rural primary schools in the western regions of China varies. As a specialized undergraduate major in elementary education aimed at nurturing new teaching professionals, it is important to determine the goals of artistic literacy and emphasize the position and role of art education in fostering students’ comprehensive abilities and qualities. This study focuses on the positioning of artistic literacy in undergraduate elementary education majors and explores the desired artistic literacy for students.

Evaluating the link between innovative human capital and regional sustainable development: Empirical evidence from China.

Innovative human capital (IHC) can boost the economic growth of nations. However, in recent years, economies have become more attuned to sustainable development. In this context, it is important to assess the potential impact of IHC on green growth. Against this background, this study empirically examines the role of IHC on regional green growth in China, considering the spatial spillover effect and focusing on the quantity and quality of human capital and its direct and indirect effects on green growth. To this end, this paper adopts the spatial Durbin model, constructs an indicator system to evaluate green growth, and establishes a calculation formula for the quantity and quality of IHC. The empirical analysis provided some important findings. First, IHC and green growth have strong spatial correlation characteristics. Second, the quantity of IHC has a significant positive impact on regional green growth; however, the quality of IHC does not promote regional green growth. Third, the quantity and quality of IHC indirectly improve the level of regional green growth through technological progress. Finally, the role of IHC and its spatial spillover effect in improving the regional green growth level are most obvious in the central and western regions of China. Therefore, promoting green growth requires enhancing the accumulation of IHC and narrowing the gap between eastern and western China in the accumulation of IHC.

The Impact of New Urbanization Construction on Sustainable Economic Growth of Resource-Based Cities.

New urbanization construction is important for promoting sustainable economic growth in resource-based cities and can help resource-based cities achieve a sustainable development model with efficient resource allocation and green and low-carbon industrial transformation. Based on the background of the comprehensive pilot policy of new urbanization, we examined whether new urbanization construction promoted the economic growth of resource-based cities using 2011-2017 data on prefecture-level cities and the difference-in-differences (DID) method. It was found that new urbanization construction significantly promoted the growth in GDP per capita of resource-based cities, with a coefficient estimate of 0.1330, and this result passed a robustness test. The mechanism test indicated that new urbanization construction promoted the economic growth of resource-based cities by improving the efficiency of resource allocation and promoting industrial structure upgrading, with interaction term coefficient estimates of 0.1465 and 0.2929, respectively. Heterogeneity analysis showed that the policy effect of new urbanization construction was stronger in resource-rich cities than in resource-poor cities, significant in energy-based resource-based cities but not in metal-based and other resource-based cities, and significant in resource-based cities in the eastern and western regions of China but not in the central region. This study provides government departments implementing new urbanization policies with the results of a policy performance assessment of new urbanization construction for resource-based cities and feasible policy recommendations for the sustainable transformation of resource-based cities.

How does environmental legislation guide urban green transition development? Evidence from China

Based on the unique perspective of local environmental regulations promulgated in Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2000 to 2018, this paper examines the impact of urban environmental legislation on green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE). The results show that implementing environmental legislation significantly improves local GTFEE, with comprehensive protection regulations contributing to local energy efficiency improvements, while the impact of pollution prevention regulations is insignificant. This conclusion remains robust to multiple scenarios. Potential mechanisms through which environmental legislation can guide urban green transition include the industrial upgrading effect represented by “clean industry development” and “polluting industry exit”, as well as the technical innovation effect achieved through “new technology generation” and “old technology upgrading”. Furthermore, environmental legislation with a higher degree of regulatory effectiveness has a greater potential for energy saving. Environmental legislation has a more significant impact on improving GTFEE in cities in non-old industrial bases, with less frequent turnover of officials, and in central and western regions in China. This study evaluates the positive impact of urban environmental legislation on GTFEE, aiming to advancing the rule of law in local environmental pollution governance and thereby promote urban green transition.

The role of digital financial inclusion in increasing fertility intentions: evidence from China

ABSTRACT Digital financial inclusion is essential for promoting regional development, but its impact on demographic change requires further investigation. Using data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) between 2012 and 2017, this study provides empirical evidence on how the growth of digital financial inclusion affects fertility intentions in China. The results indicate that a one percent increase in the provincial-level digital financial inclusion index is associated with a 0.136% increase in fertility intentions. These findings hold across different components of digital financial inclusion and are robust to instrumental variable approaches. Moreover, the study shows that the expansion of digital financial inclusion has a more significant effect on households in low-income groups, central and western regions of China, and women with low educational attainment. These results underscore the importance of digital financial inclusion in addressing population declines worldwide.

Digital finance development and bank liquidity creation

This paper explores the impact of digital finance development on bank liquidity creation. Using 118 banks in China from 2011 to 2020, we find that digital finance development has a negative impact on bank liquidity creation. The inhibitory effect mainly exists in on-balance sheet and asset-side liquidity creation and has less impact on off-balance sheet liquidity creation. This negative impact is more pronounced in large banks, national banks, and banks in the western region in China. The bank risk-taking level mediates the relationship between digital finance development and bank liquidity creation.

Study on Coal Spontaneous Combustion Dangerous Zone Under Different Air Leakage in the Shallow Buried Coal Seam Fissure

ABSTRACT In the western region of China, the coal seam is shallowly buried. Overburden fissures readily develop upwards through the surface, and provide channels for wind to flow into the gob. Here, a model for the coal spontaneous combustion in gob caused by air leakage from fissures in shallow coal seams was established. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing the oxygen concentration on the inlet and outlet sides of the field monitoring data with the results of numerical simulation. In addition, the distribution of oxygen concentration and wind speed in gob and their influence on spontaneous combustion dangerous zone were studied by numerical simulation when the air leakage volume varied from low to high (36–600 m3/min). The results showed no significant change in the distribution ranges of oxygen concentration and wind speed along the Z-direction when there is no air leakage from the gas conducting fissure in the gob. With the increase of air leakage, the oxidation zone defined by oxygen concentration moves to the depth of the gob, and the oxygen concentration near the fissure increases. In addition, the oxidation zone defined by the wind speed moves significantly deeper into the mining area, and the wind speed is higher at the location corresponding to the fissure close to the working face, and the overall symmetrical distribution of the flow field in the mining area. According to the oxygen concentration and wind speed, the size of dangerous zone initially increased, before decreasing and finally plateauing.

중국 학계의 한국독립운동사 연구 경향과 성과(1992~2021)

Before the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and ROK, Chinese academic circles had begun to study the Korean Independence Movement, but lay particular emphasis on the early anti-Japanese independence activities such as the “Conscript Movement” and the “March 1st Movement”. In the early 1980s, with the advance of China’s reform and opening-up policy, scholars in mainland China began to pay attention to the history of Korean independence movement under the influence of the Chinese Society of Korean History. After the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and ROK in 1992, with the help of the governments and academic circles, several research centers have been established, such as Yanbian University ,Jilin Academy of Social Sciences, Fudan University, Peking University,etc. Several publications, such as Contemporary Korea and Chinese Journal of Korean Studies, have been published successively, and the history of Korean Independence Movement has shown a vigorous development trend.
 Chinese academic circles focus on the March 1st Movement, the Korean Provisional Government, the Korean armed forces in China, the Korean independence movement and CPC, as well as the Korean diaspora, propaganda activities, and mutual understanding between China and ROK. Chinese academic circles have a relatively accurate grasp of the macro background, but lack of attention to the domestic history of ROK. In recent years, due to the fluctuation of Sino-ROK relations, the academic exchanges and the number of works on the history of the independence movement in China and ROK appear signs of relative decline.
 The academic circle should attach importance to and support the development and utilization of academic resources in the central and western regions of China, and actively promote the academic exchange and talent reserve between the two sides.

Understanding the structural contributions to the functional properties of chestnut starch high in resistant starch type-2.

Chestnut has recently attracted attention because of its exceptional functional properties, which are mainly influenced by the structural properties of chestnut starch (CS). In this study, ten varieties of chestnut from the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions of China were selected, and their functional properties, including thermal properties, pasting properties, in vitro digestibility, and multi-scale structural characteristics were characterized. The relationship between structure and functional properties was clarified. In the varieties that were studied, the pasting temperature of CS was in the range of 67.2-75.2 °C and the pastes displayed diverse viscosity characteristics. Slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS) of CS were in the range of 17.17-28.78% and 61.19-76.10%, respectively. Chestnut starch from north-eastern China exhibited the highest RS content of 74.43-76.10%. Structural correlation analysis revealed that smaller size distribution, fewer B2 chains, and thinner lamellae thickness contributed to higher RS content. Meanwhile, CS with smaller granules, more B2 chains, and thicker amorphous lamellae displayed lower peak viscosities, stronger resistance to shear, and higher thermal stability. Overall, this study clarified the relationship between the functional properties and the multi-scale structure of CS, revealing the structural contributions to its high RS content. These findings provide significant information and basic data for use in the creation of nutritional chestnut food. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Impact of Internet Development on Green Economic Growth: Evidence from China

In the context of "Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality", digital technologies, such as Internet, is now playing an increasingly prominent role in the economic and social development, serving as an engine in the green transformation and growth of the economy. Based on a two-way fixed effect model (TWFEM), this study researches the impact of Internet development (ID) on green economic growth (GEG), utilizing panel data for 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2020. This study draws the following five main conclusions. Firstly, ID has a significant contribution to GEG in China. Secondly, compared to the central and western regions of China, the impact of ID on GEG is stronger in the east. Thirdly, the positive impact of ID on GEG was stronger after the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (NCCPC) in 2012. Fourthly, ID promotes China's GEG mainly through promoting economic growth and improving pollution control. Fifthly, government intervention weakens the impact mechanism, while market development enhances it. After a series of robustness tests, the above findings remain valid, boosting important implications for furthering the coordinated development of the digital and green economies.

Study on the Impact of Economic Growth Targets on the Return on Capital in China's Real Economy

Economic growth is a common goal pursued by various countries and regions, and among various economic sectors, the real economy is the foundation of a country's economy and is directly related to productivity and the actual level of development of the national economy, while the return on capital is an important indicator of the development of the real economy and responds to the profitability of market players, and in the face of the current pressure of demand contraction, supply shock and expected weakening of China's economic development. This paper theoretically analyzes the mechanism of the impact of economic growth targets on the return on capital of the real economy and empirically examines it using panel data of 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government in China over a total of 18 years from 2003 to 2020. It is found that the impact of economic growth targets on the return to capital in the real economy is inverted U-shaped in terms of national data during the examined period, i.e., the return to capital in the real economy increases and then decreases as the economic growth targets are continuously increased. The results of the heterogeneity test show that the economic growth target has different effects on the return to capital of the real economy in different regions, among which, the relationship between the change in economic growth target and the change in the return to capital of the real economy is consistent with the inverted U-shape in the central and western regions of China, but the relationship is not significant in the eastern regions of China. The results of the intermediate effect test show that the economic growth target affects the return to capital of the real economy through government intervention, and also affects the return to capital of the real economy through fiscal pressure and other mechanisms of action. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of changes in economic growth targets on the return to capital of the real economy and its transmission mechanism, and the findings of the study can provide a reference for setting economic growth targets with full consideration of the need for long-term sustainable development, focusing on innovation and avoiding over-reliance on short-term benefits and financial markets.

How Does Digital Finance Affect the Burden of Real Enterprises: Evidence from China

By mainly studying how digital finance affects the burden of real enterprises, this paper utilizes the two-way fixed effect model to test whether the burden of industrial enterprises above the designated size can be largely reduced by digital finance. The following results are found: (1) Digital finance can generally reduce the cost ratio by a large margin. (2) The breadth and depth of digital finance enable a positively significant influence on decreasing the cost rate of enterprises, but the degree of digitalization is the opposite. (3) Among the eastern, central, and western regions in China, only the industrial enterprises above the designated size in the eastern regions are significantly affected by digital finance, which reduces their cost ratio. On this premise, this paper aims to leverage the advantages of digital finance to help related industries and enterprises as well as strengthen regional synergy. Besides, relevant government departments need to provide suggestions on digital financial supervision and innovation assistance. This paper offers a reference that makes a difference for the research pertinent to digital finance.

A novel assembled channel lining for reducing frost heave in seasonally frozen regions

The destruction of channel lining under frost action in seasonally frozen regions has become a prominent factor restricting water transportation in western regions of China, which has also caused a lot of waste of water resources. A novel assembled channel lining for reducing frost heave destruction was presented in this paper. The assembled channel and a normal channel with the trapezoidal section were carried out in the laboratory, considering different water level storage in the high-temperature period. The results revealed that the freezing depths in the channel was quite different, and the order from large to small is the channel embankment, center of the bottom and slope toe. Meanwhile, compared to the variation of water level, the influence of water storage in the channel on the frost heave deformation is more significant than that in the absence of water in the channel. The triangular prism block with the large cross-section set at the slope toe of the assembled channel not only has the insulation effect and a specific anti-seepage function at the channel foundation soil to a certain extent, but also connects the independent concrete plates one by one with the loop-end buckle groove to make the channel deformation uniform under the frost heave. Therefore, the assembled channel could be considered as a novel channel structure to prevent and reduce the frost heave damage in seasonally frozen regions.

Can the Digitalization Reduce Carbon Emission Intensity?—The Moderating Effects of the Fiscal Decentralization

Carbon emission reduction is the top priority in improving green production efficiency and achieving sustainable development, while digitalization (Digi) is an important engine that drives efficient carbon emission reduction. However, in China, the government and the market jointly influence economic and social development, and the effectiveness of Digi in promoting carbon emission reduction is also influenced by the external fiscal system. In this study, we first establish a theoretical framework for digitalization that can reduce carbon emission intensity (CEI) and reveal the important role of fiscal decentralization (FD) on the impact of Digi on CEI and is based on the typical features of the Chinese FD system. Second, we investigate the relationship between Digi and CEI and the moderating effect of FD based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2019, and we utilize a fixed-effects panel model that introduces moderating variables and a panel threshold model. By testing the econometric model, we observe that increasing the level of Digi significantly reduces CEI. FD reinforces this reduction effect, and Digi has a significant dampening effect on CEI only when the level of FD is higher than 0.84. Additionally, the inhibitory effect of Digi and positive moderating effect of FD are higher in the central and western regions of China. Finally, we suggest countermeasures to promote low-carbon development for accelerating digital transformation, thereby deepening the reform of “delegating power, improving regulation, and optimizing service” systems.

Reflections on Regional Economic Convergence and Higher Education Funding in China

The improvement of the quality of labor is a fundamental element in promoting national economic development, and the value created by high-level human capital will continue to be demonstrated in the rapid development of society. According to the relevant provisions of human capital theory, the impact of human capital on regional economic growth is mainly considered from two aspects: the "quantity" and "quality" of human capital. According to relevant empirical results, there is a strong autocorrelation between higher education investment and advanced human capital in geographical space. The direct and indirect spillovers of technological innovation effects in advanced human capital can both promote economic growth. Therefore, many educators, economists, and others view the country's financial investment in education as an endogenous variable for regional or even national economic development. In the following research, the author takes the economic convergence of the eastern, central, and western regions of China as the starting point to explore the relationship between higher education investment, human capital structure, and regional economic growth, and to study the internal relationship between higher education and regional economy.

Impact of digital economic development and environmental pollution on residents’ health: an empirical analysis based on 279 prefecture-level cities in China

BackgroundThe digital economy based on the internet and IT is developing rapidly in China, which makes a profound impact on urban environmental quality and residents’ health activities. Thus, this study introduces environmental pollution as a mediating variable based on Grossman’s health production function to explore the impact of digital economic development on the health of the population and its influence path.MethodsBased on the panel data of 279 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2017, this paper investigates the acting mechanism of digital economic development on residents’ health by employing a combination of mediating effects model and spatial Durbin model.ResultsThe development of digital economy makes direct improvement on residents’ health condition, which is also obtained indirectly by means of environmental pollution mitigation. Besides, from the perspective of spatial spillover effect, the development of digital economy also has a significant promoting effect on the health of adjacent urban residents, and further analysis reveals that the promoting effect in the central and western regions of China is more pronounced than that in the eastern region.ConclusionsDigital economy can have a direct promoting effect on the health of residents, and environmental pollution has an intermediary effect between digital economy and residents’ health; At the same time, there is also a regional heterogeneity among the three relationships. Therefore, this paper believes that the government should continue to formulate and implement scientific digital economy development policies at the macro and micro levels to narrow the regional digital divide, improve environmental quality and enhance the health level of residents.

The Spatial Spillover Effect of Logistics and Manufacturing Co-Agglomeration on Regional Economic Resilience: Evidence from China’s Provincial Panel Data

The logistics and manufacturing industries’ co-agglomeration (LMCA) and deep integration, as well as the industries’ digital transformation and intelligent upgrading, are of great significance to enhance regional economic resilience (EcoResi). This paper establishes a theoretical framework for LMCA and EcoResi based on the economic development theory and the new economic geography theory, explores the spatial spillover effect of LMCA on EcoResi, and measures the levels of LMCA and EcoResi. The data set is consisted of the indicators of LMCA and GDP growth rate of 30 provinces, centrally administered municipalities, and autonomous regions in China from 2006 to 2020. Spatial econometric models were used to empirically analyze the impact of LMCA on EcoResi based on provincial panel data. The results show that the improvement in LMCA not only improves the resilience of local economy, but it also has a significant spatial spillover effect. Further regional analyses show that LMCA has significant stimulating effects and spatial spillover effects on EcoResi in the central and western regions of China. However, the same effects are not significant in the eastern region of China. This research enriches the literature by suggesting effective ways to enhance EcoResi through LMCA.

Assessment methodology for the development management efficiency of the Huanghe river basin territories

The territories of river basins historically have a high potential and act as a catalyst for the development of regional systems through access to natural resources, favorable transport conditions and recreation. The Yellow River connects the eastern and western regions of China with its basin, forming a single economic vector for the adjacent territories. Determining the effectiveness of programs and projects for the integrated development of water basin territories should be based on a system of evaluation criteria. The article presents a methodological apparatus that allows in the future to determine the most effective directions for the development of basin territories, based on the proposed system of evaluation indices.

Trade Openness and Environmental Pollution Management: Push or Pull?

Foreign trade, as one of the troika of China's economic development, plays a vital role, bringing great benefits to the country through trade, but also accompanied by a series of environmental problems such as the export industry's carbon emissions increasing year by year and a series of environmental problems. Therefore, to explore the impact of trade openness on the environmental pollution control mechanism has practical and theoretical significance. Based on relevant theories and literature, this paper first combed through the mechanism of trade opening on environmental pollution and found the entry point. Then, based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2007 to 2017, this paper explored the mechanism of trade opening on environmental pollution in the whole country and the eastern, central and western regions of China, and introduced technological innovation intermediary variables to build an intermediary model. The empirical results show that the relationship between the level of trade openness and industrial wastewater emissions is inverted "N", "U" with industrial sulphur dioxide emissions and negative linear with industrial soot emissions; trade openness will exert a mediating effect on environmental pollution control through technological innovation as a mediating variable.