Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024)

Open Access

Article

Divestment of foreign direct investment and domestic investment in developing countries agriculture

Charlotte Badu-Prah, Francis Yao Srofenyoh, Ferguson Korbla Gidiglo, Akua Agyeiwaa-Afrane, Kofi Aaron Aboa-Offei Agyei-Henaku, Justice Gameli Djokoto

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 9 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.9

Abstract：

Divestment of foreign direct investment has accompanied foreign direct investment. The literature on the interface of foreign direct investment and domestic investment in the agricultural sector is limited. None of these addressed the effect of agricultural foreign divestment on agricultural domestic investment. This paper filled this gap by assessing the direction and extent of the effect of agricultural foreign divestment on agricultural domestic investment in developing countries. The panel data of 50 countries, covering 1995 to 2020 and making up 619 observations, was fitted to fixed and random effects as well as generalised estimation equation estimators. We found agricultural foreign divestment crowded out agricultural domestic investment in developing countries. Economic managers in developing countries must work towards strong macroeconomic indicators, as these have collateral benefits for enhancing agricultural domestic investment.

Open Access

Article

Social business, artificial intelligence, and sustainability: An integrated approach for the future

Federico de Andreis, Ubaldo Comite, Alba M. Gallo, Diana M. Andone, Giacomo Ciaschi

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 18 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.18

Abstract：

The paper scrutinizes the social business model in light of current and impending challenges within the capitalist system. It emphasizes the integration of this model into a civil economy oriented toward public well-being, illustrating how it effectively addresses environmental, social, and economic issues while ensuring economic sustainability. The strategic utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize resources and enhance production efficiency is explored as a pivotal element in achieving sustainable development goals. The article then presents a case study—Madri Leone, a winery in Puglia, Italy—run by two sisters. This case study serves as a concrete example of success, combining family tradition, social commitment, and sustainable practices. In summary, the primary objective of this contribution is to demonstrate the compatibility of the social business model with the current and future socio-economic context. It highlights the model’s potential to contribute significantly to the resolution of social and environmental challenges while maintaining economic sustainability.

Open Access

Article

Challenges in evaluation standards for public investment projects (PIP) in Lao PDR: Evaluation of quality of life by a combination of OECD, ADB, and PCAP evaluation approaches

Bounthasin Xayalath, Souvikane Hanpasith, Phothasin Saleumsack, Soulivanh Chansombuth

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 15 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.15

Abstract：

Minority people are living in society in Laos, and the Lao government is struggling to promote their lives. In rural areas, minority people are having difficulties accessing good food and safe drink intake (GFSDI). In this survey, the author 1) investigated the GFSDI of minority people by using logistic regression and to find the effectiveness and efficiency of the PIP projects via the result of GFSDI; 2) used an evaluation approach modified from OECD, ADB, and PCAP, which is called the mixed economic evaluation ‘ECEVA’, to find the effectiveness and efficiency of the PIP projects by employing ECEVA and AECEVA. The author used the primary set of data collected from the field survey by interviewing 518 villagers who were minority people and worked with the PIP projects in 11 provinces. As a result, the AECEVA showed that PIP projects were quite effective and efficient in supporting the quality of life of minority people in rural areas. Interestingly, the result of logistic regression also showed that the GFSDI of minorities could demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the PIP projects in Laos.

Open Access

Article

The contributions of corporate social responsibility in textile and apparel industry toward consumers’ purchase intention: Perceived quality and corporate image as mediators

Yan Cheng, Yan Zhao, Yu Zhao

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 37 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.37

Abstract：

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays a pivotal role in the development of enterprises and entire industries, serving as a communication bridge between business organizations and consumers. Grounded in the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), this study aims to investigate the contribution of CSR in the textile and apparel industry to consumers’ purchase intentions, with perceived quality and corporate image as mediators. To achieve this objective, the study first formulates hypotheses and a theoretical model based on relevant works. Subsequently, through an extensive review of literature and interview surveys, key indicators for CSR, perceived quality, corporate image, and purchase intention are identified, along with their corresponding scales. These scales are then distributed to consumers to collect questionnaire data, which is further integrated into a stepwise regression model and mediating model to test the theoretical model. The results provide insights into the contribution of various dimensions of CSR to consumers’ purchase intentions and validate the role of perceived quality and corporate image as mediators. There are two contributions to this work: (1) unveiling the important role of perceived quality and corporate image in connecting CSR and consumers’ purchase intention, offering a novel theoretical framework for the study of sustainable development in the textile and apparel industry and other industries or settings. (2) furnishing the textile and apparel industry with insights to better comprehend and respond to the relationship between CSR, perceived quality, and purchase intention, thereby achieving more substantial economic and social benefits.

Open Access

Article

Financial expenditure, financial friction, and coal consumption for energy efficient environment: Role of financial inclusion

Nadeem Iqbal, Zeeshan Akmal

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 17 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.17

Abstract：

This research investigates the crucial role that adaptability and ongoing evaluation have in implementing sustainable energy and economic development strategies in China. It emphasises the need for collaboration between enterprises, governmental organisations, and academic institutions in order to achieve these goals. The study also discusses how financial inclusion impacts economic growth and stability and how energy-intensive companies might use the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) approach to evaluate energy decomposition. The findings indicate that different provinces in China’s high energy-intensive (EI) economic sectors have different degrees of energy efficiency, with certain regions possibly having inefficiencies. The research underscores the need for targeted strategies to address these inefficiencies and disseminate efficacious approaches in new settings. The research also offers useful data that may be used to promote sustainable energy consumption and economic growth, with implications for policy-making and strategic initiatives. In summary, this paper presents specific policy recommendations and highlights the need for ongoing evaluation and collaboration to support China’s sustainable energy initiatives and economic growth.

Open Access

Article

Regional integration in Southern Africa: Evidence from the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Bhavna Mahadew

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 102 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.102

Abstract：

This article provides an informative review of regional integration in Southern Africa by drawing lessons and evidence from the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It provides for a review of literature on the SADC from a regional integration perspective. SADC has expanded into a more expansive regional organisation in response to the challenges faced in the 1990s, and it currently includes South Africa, the region’s superpower. Furthermore, trade integration is receiving more attention, despite not being a main debate point at the Southern African Development Co-Ordinating Conference (SADCC). The SADC Trade Protocol has been decisive in trade integration. The purpose of the Protocol is to ensure that companies operating in each of the nations in the region may fairly compete to service the 150 million customers that comprise the market as a whole. It is anticipated that regional free trade will increase the likelihood of economic growth, increase intra-SADC commercial activity, create jobs, and elevate the standard of living for SADC residents.

Open Access

Review

The evolution of sustainable economic development: Trends, trade-offs and trajectories for balanced economic activities

Xi Wang, Jie Zheng

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 12 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.12

Abstract：

This study presents a systematic examination of the paradigm shift towards mechanisms facilitating sustainable economic development, which has been instigated by the recognized deficiencies in conventional growth models pertaining to social, environmental, and economic dimensions. The discourse encompasses critical topics, including sustainable growth policies, environmental economics, sustainable entrepreneurship, poverty reduction strategies, green marketing and branding, and sustainable tourism. While discernible progress has been achieved, persistent challenges in areas such as inequality, climate change, resource management, and poverty necessitate further scrutiny. Future research endeavors may delve into understanding the motivations shaping sustainable development mechanisms, refining metrics to assess the impact of environmental entrepreneurship, and formulating strategies to address the intricate challenges associated with multifaceted poverty reduction. This shift towards balanced economic activities that promote environmental and social wellbeing is indispensable. Systematic, sustainable transformation encompassing governance, empowerment, renewable energy, and investments aligned with socio-ecological goals is imperative. And the impetus for sustainability integration is currently propelled by technological innovation, evolving consumer preferences, and widespread adoption across diverse sectors. This evolution signifies a collaborative trajectory to strike a delicate balance between economic growth and ecological limits for an equitable and sustainable development mechanism in the future.

Open Access

Review

Digital green innovation economy for Industry 5.0

Xiaolu Lv, Yiran Wang, Lirui Liu, Shi Yin

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 8 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.8

Abstract：

In the context of current global economic development, Industry 5.0 and the digital green innovation economy have become hot research topics, and they are related to each other, providing new opportunities for sustainable development. Using the literature research method and a comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, this paper discusses the internal mechanism and realization path of Industry 5.0, enabling a green innovation economy, and concludes that the implementation of Industry 5.0 and the digital green innovation economy is of great significance in terms of resource efficiency, waste reduction, and carbon emission reduction. However, there are also challenges, such as technical barriers, regulatory issues, and funding needs. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the government, enterprises, and society need to work together to formulate appropriate policies and strategies to promote the integration of Industry 5.0 and the digital green innovation economy. This paper aims to emphasize the importance of a digital green innovation economy oriented to Industry 5.0, provide new impetus for future economic growth, reduce environmental pollution, promote sustainable social development, and lay a foundation for subsequent research.

Open Access

Review

Genesis and evolution of parallel economies during the Syrian crisis: A political economy view

Igor Matveev

Sustainable Economies, Vol.2, No.1, 2(1), 63 , 2024, DOI: 10.62617/se.v2i1.63

Abstract：

A highly internationalized domestic armed conflict in Syria, active since 2011, has caused deep territorial fragmentation, accompanied by the genesis of numerous parallel economies. Those include the economy of the self-proclaimed “Kurdish autonomy” encompassing the northeast, partially the north and the east of the country, as well as the historical transboundary criminal-terrorist economy of the “Islamic State of Syria and the Levant” (ISIL or ISIS) (this organization is banned in the Russian Federation), which existed during 2014–2019 in Iraq and Syria, the economy of “the Turkish occupation zone” in the north, and finally the economy of the part of the north-western Idlib province, remaining under control of the radical Syrian opposition. Unlike the previous materials on the Syrian conflict published in Russia and abroad, the author analyzes parallel economies from the angle of political economy, i.e., the “state-economy-individual” trichotomy, using current and retrospective lenses. In addition to a scope of Russian, English, and Arabic resources and literature, he uses the data obtained empirically during his previous stint as a senior diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Damascus. In certain cases the reviews are illustrated by the statistics. The article covers the genesis and evolution of parallel economies, including the phenomena of divided cities and siege economies, highlighting the restrictions on the access of the central authorities to the state borders and the dissolution of transport and communications. Besides, it analyses the external orientations of parallel economies, in many cases being tied more to the neighbor states (Türkiye, Iraq) than the rest of Syria. In conclusion, the author compares the levels of sustainability of the parallel economies in Syria in the light of perspectives for national economic reintegration. Which could be important not in scientific terms only but as a practical imperative for seeking the modalities of a peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis as well.