Systems

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19 pages, 6540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dynamics of China’s Collaborative Innovation Network in Agricultural Biotechnology: A Spatial-Topological Perspective

by Hongkun Ma

Systems 2023, 11(2), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11020073 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2236

Abstract

This paper explores the dynamics of the collaborative innovation network of China’s agricultural biotechnology, from a spatial-topological perspective. The data pertain to a collection of patent applications jointly filed by universities, research institutes and enterprises on the mainland of China during 1985–2017. Using [...] Read more.

This paper explores the dynamics of the collaborative innovation network of China’s agricultural biotechnology, from a spatial-topological perspective. The data pertain to a collection of patent applications jointly filed by universities, research institutes and enterprises on the mainland of China during 1985–2017. Using the logistic model, we first identify the developing phases of China’s agricultural biotechnology. By dismantling the collaborative innovation network into spatial and topological networks, the dynamics are analyzed from these two dimensions at the three levels of nodes, edges and whole network. The results indicate that with the technology developing from the introduction to the growth-to-maturity phase, the collaborative innovation network exhibits dynamics as follows: as the scale expands, collaborations in the network are concentrated core cities, while dispersing to more innovators; enterprises replace universities and become the main innovation forces; the network attributes of small-world, scale-free and core-edge structures are apparent. Multi proximity factors including geographical, cognitive and organizational, play key roles in driving the dynamics, and the main factor evolves from geographical proximity to cognitive as well as organizational proximity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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27 pages, 1505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Export Trade, Absorptive Capacity, and High-Quality Economic Development in China

by Haiyan Luo and Xiaoe Qu

Systems 2023, 11(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11020054 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3401

Abstract

Exports are a crucial driving force of China’s economic growth; however, researchers have yet to verify whether they can effectively improve the high-quality economic development. Based on interprovincial panel data from 2000 to 2019, in this study, we constructed a high-quality economic development [...] Read more.

Exports are a crucial driving force of China’s economic growth; however, researchers have yet to verify whether they can effectively improve the high-quality economic development. Based on interprovincial panel data from 2000 to 2019, in this study, we constructed a high-quality economic development indicator system through the entropy weight method, and we adopted the linear regression model and dynamic panel threshold model to empirically test the export trade effect on the high-quality economic development as well as its mechanism. We also probed the impact of the heterogeneous absorptive capacity on the high-quality economic development. According to our research findings, China’s export trade has substantially promoted the high-quality economic development level by, from the viewpoint of the action path, positively influencing the economic, open, and coordination subsystems. The influence of the export trade on the high-quality economic development has a substantial single-threshold effect on the heterogeneous absorptive capacity; that is, when the threshold variables that represent the regional absorptive capacity (the economic level, R&D intensity, and technological gap) are all higher than the threshold value, the export trade has a substantial positive impact on the high-quality economic development level. The research conclusions of this paper provide new ideas for the development of high-quality economic systems as well as a useful reference for China in its formulation of more targeted foreign trade policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 1570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can Community-Based Organizations Improve Flood Risk Communication? A Case Study of China Based on Grounded Theory

by Qiang Li and Yi Lin

Systems 2023, 11(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11020053 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3244

Abstract

Urban flood risk communication continues to challenge governments. Community-based organizations (CBOs) aim to rapidly detect deficiencies in capacity to deal with flood risk in vulnerable communities and disseminate accessible risk information to assist in the selection and implementation of risk mitigation measures. This [...] Read more.

Urban flood risk communication continues to challenge governments. Community-based organizations (CBOs) aim to rapidly detect deficiencies in capacity to deal with flood risk in vulnerable communities and disseminate accessible risk information to assist in the selection and implementation of risk mitigation measures. This paper discusses the methods through which CBO members think their work is beneficial in the response to urban floods. Grounded theory is utilized to guide a mixed-method approach that included semistructured interviews with CBO members (N = 34), participatory observations, and policy document analysis. The findings show that localization of risk knowledge and the emergence of new social networks are important factors in flood risk communication in vulnerable communities. This discovery may highlight the varied aspects of creating community resilience and explain why traditional risk communication is currently unsuccessful. Our findings also shed light on the priorities associated with urban flood risk communication. Only by linking flood risk management to actual livelihoods can we ensure the smooth execution of relevant disaster mitigation measures, especially for vulnerable groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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23 pages, 1279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Innovation-Driving Mechanism for the Synergistic Development of Two-Way FDI in China’s Manufacturing Industry: Based on the Perspective of the New Development Pattern of “Dual Circulation”

by Lei Xu, Qiuyu Tang, Liang Xu and Hanjie Yang

Systems 2023, 11(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11010017 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2392

Abstract

The new pattern of “dual circulation” is a new development model for China to seek mutual promotion between international and domestic markets in the new era. In this context, this paper explores the synergistic relationship between two-way FDI and its impact mechanism on [...] Read more.

The new pattern of “dual circulation” is a new development model for China to seek mutual promotion between international and domestic markets in the new era. In this context, this paper explores the synergistic relationship between two-way FDI and its impact mechanism on the improvement of China’s manufacturing innovation capability. By taking 27 segments of the Chinese manufacturing industry as data samples from 2003 to 2018, we use the Granger cause, orthogonalized impulse response function, and physical capacity coupling system to verify the two-way FDI synergistic development relationship in the Chinese manufacturing industry and measure its degree of synergy. In addition, we empirically explore the mediating role of industrial structure upgrading in the impact of two-way FDI synergistic development on innovation capability in the Chinese manufacturing industry, and further analyze the industrial heterogeneity of this mediating role among labor-intensive, capital-intensive, and technology-intensive manufacturing segments. The study finds that firstly, there are different degrees of synergistic development in the Chinese manufacturing segments, and this synergistic development significantly contributes to the innovation capability and industrial structure upgrading of the Chinese manufacturing industry. Secondly, industrial structure upgrading of the Chinese manufacturing industry plays an essential mediating effect in the innovation-driving process of the two-way FDI synergistic development, and the mediating effect shows significant industrial heterogeneity. More specifically, the mediating effects in labor-intensive and technology-intensive industries are significantly positive, and the mediating effect in technology-intensive industries is more prominent. However, the mediating effect in capital-intensive industries is significantly negative. The paper provides empirical evidence to clarify the innovation-driving mechanism of the two-way FDI synergistic development in China’s manufacturing industry from the perspective of the new development pattern of “dual circulation” and provides valuable references for research in related fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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15 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Impact of Innovation Activities on Financial Performance in Developed and Emerging Markets

by Hee Soo Lee, Nina Shin and Jinho Choi

Systems 2023, 11(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11010016 - 30 Dec 2022

Viewed by 2327

Abstract

M&As have been regarded significantly as an alternative entry mode in facilitating firms’ internalization strategy. Limited studies uncover the integrative role of M&As on the firms’ financial performance from various market perspectives. This study explores the relationship between M&As and their financial outcomes [...] Read more.

M&As have been regarded significantly as an alternative entry mode in facilitating firms’ internalization strategy. Limited studies uncover the integrative role of M&As on the firms’ financial performance from various market perspectives. This study explores the relationship between M&As and their financial outcomes from developed and emerging markets. It provides evidence that internalization through M&As has a significant impact on the aggregate market value in both developed and emerging markets, and emerging markets can learn from the varying impact of innovation activities on financial performance in developed markets. This study provides location and time selection strategies for multinational firms seeking cross-border M&As. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

15 pages, 2046 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interactions between Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation toward Sustainable Development

by Mingxia Zhang, Yang Chen, Oleksii Lyulyov and Tetyana Pimonenko

Systems 2023, 11(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems11010013 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2892

Abstract

Ongoing environmental issues and degradation provoke the implementation of relevant incentives to overcome them without restrictions of economic growth. Considering the Chinese sustainable development policy, each province should provide the effective ecological regulations that consider the dynamic changes of the economic and ecological [...] Read more.

Ongoing environmental issues and degradation provoke the implementation of relevant incentives to overcome them without restrictions of economic growth. Considering the Chinese sustainable development policy, each province should provide the effective ecological regulations that consider the dynamic changes of the economic and ecological indicators of the province’s development. In this case, the paper aims to analyze the relationship between economic growth and environmental quality. The object of the investigation is the Henan provinces of China from 1994 to 2020. The study applied a vector autoregression model between the one-way and two-way relationship analysis, Granger causality test, cointegration test, and impulse response function. The findings confirm that GDP growth causes exhaust gas production and that SO₂ will also influence wastewater. The results of the co-consolidation analysis showed that if the production of industrial solid waste gas and SO₂ volume increased by 1% each, GDP per capita would increase by 0.22% and 0.35%, respectively. The findings of the variance decomposition of the GDP per capita in the first phase are all due to their perturbation term. The other influencing factors have no influence. Over time, GDP per capita is less and less affected and significantly enhanced by wastewater, exhaust gas, and SO₂. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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16 pages, 2297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

System “Person-State-Society” in Period of Social Turbulence and Big Challenges (Case Study: Tomsk City, the Russian Federation)

by Anatoly Sidorov, Elena Pokrovskaya and Margarita Raitina

Systems 2022, 10(6), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060262 - 18 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2171

Abstract

The article reflects the role of society in an era of uncertainty and people’s behavior in response to big challenges. The aim is to consider the responsibility for resolving crisis situations by state power. Comprehending is possible on the theory formed by the [...] Read more.

The article reflects the role of society in an era of uncertainty and people’s behavior in response to big challenges. The aim is to consider the responsibility for resolving crisis situations by state power. Comprehending is possible on the theory formed by the concepts of social turbulence and aggravated regimes, which are based on such characteristics of processes as nonlinearity, spontaneity, uncertainty, and high speeds. This study offers the hypothesis about the shift in the value orientations of the population from the rational to the irrational area in the face of growing uncertainty and turbulence in the environment, which should become the subject of managerial influence when forming a corrective or anti-crisis policy, and about the formation public demand for “strong” state intervention, protecting the population from the negative consequences of regimes with escalations. The article concludes the practical significance and applicability of the research, but also as a theoretical basis for the development of methods and technologies for diagnostics of public demand within the framework of information and analytical support of public administration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 1353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Growth or Gray Growth: Measuring Green Growth Efficiency of the Manufacturing Industry in China

by Xiaofei Lv and Xiaoli Lu

Systems 2022, 10(6), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060255 - 14 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

The manufacturing industry has created a rapid evolution of the economy, but it has also negatively impacted the ecosystem. A better understanding of the manufacturing industry in green growth is crucial to achieving the sustainability goals in China’s high-quality development stage and is [...] Read more.

The manufacturing industry has created a rapid evolution of the economy, but it has also negatively impacted the ecosystem. A better understanding of the manufacturing industry in green growth is crucial to achieving the sustainability goals in China’s high-quality development stage and is better for identifying the impact of scale effect or technological effect in EKC. In this research, a super-efficiency slacks-based measure model is proposed to evaluate the green growth efficiency of 27 manufacturing industries, and a Luenberger index method is adopted to interpret the driving forces of efficiency. The results demonstrate that green growth efficiency in the manufacturing industry shows a fluctuating upward trend, and more than 60% of the industries are in a gray growth state. The growth of green growth efficiency mainly depends on the pulling effect of technological dividends brought by technological progress, rather than the improvement of technical efficiency. As the industry heterogeneity is analyzed, technology-intensive industries still dominate in the process of manufacturing industry and have shown a significant upward trend. Finally, some suggestions are proposed from the perspective of the government and enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 3494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Eco-Efficiency and Its Influencing Factors in China Based on the Two-Stage Super-NEBM Model

by Hongzhi Ma, Yutong Han, Keke Lv, Manyu Bi and Yexi Zhong

Systems 2022, 10(6), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060217 - 13 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2042

Abstract

Eco-efficiency, as one of the evaluation tools for sustainable development performance, has been a widely discussed topic in academia for the past several decades. However, the existing research on eco-efficiency is rather homogeneous. Most of it is based on the construction of a [...] Read more.

Eco-efficiency, as one of the evaluation tools for sustainable development performance, has been a widely discussed topic in academia for the past several decades. However, the existing research on eco-efficiency is rather homogeneous. Most of it is based on the construction of a system of indicators that includes ecological constraints to evaluate its overall eco-efficiency, but it treats the eco-economic system as a ‘black box’, ignoring the fact that it is actually composed of several sub-systems. In this paper, based on a two-stage resource-environment system perspective, we construct a Super-NEBM model considering undesirable outputs to measure urban ecological efficiency; a spatial Durbin model is then used to analyse its influencing factors. The results indicate that (1) China’s urban eco-efficiency levels are fluctuating, with a decreasing “east-central/northeast-west” trend. (2) The spatial heterogeneity of ecological efficiency levels in Chinese cities is obvious, with significant spatial agglomeration effects. (3) There are positive spatial spillover effects on the ecological efficiency of Chinese cities; economic development, industrial structure, financial development, population density, innovation capacity, infrastructure, marketisation and informatisation all have important direct effects on urban ecological efficiency; in addition, economic development, financial development, population density, marketisation, informatisation and foreign investment all have significant indirect effects of varying degrees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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23 pages, 3544 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Customer Satisfaction in e-Commerce during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Galina Ilieva, Tania Yankova, Stanislava Klisarova and Yulia Dzhabarova

Systems 2022, 10(6), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060213 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 13681

Abstract

The declared state of emergency and the measures taken against the spread of coronavirus by governments have increased Internet shopping. All companies, regardless of size and type of business activity, had to adapt their business models to the new circumstances through transformation of [...] Read more.

The declared state of emergency and the measures taken against the spread of coronavirus by governments have increased Internet shopping. All companies, regardless of size and type of business activity, had to adapt their business models to the new circumstances through transformation of their business processes and offering products or services tailored to the changing customer behavior. This study aims to analyze the peculiarities of online sales during the COVID-19 health crisis via the integration of classic and modern data analysis methods. The purpose of the paper is to identify the main factors determining user behavior and examine their impact on customer satisfaction in e-commerce. The survey method and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to recognize the dependencies between variables from the online users’ perspective. The satisfaction determinants indicated and described in the paper affect differently the perceived value for the customers. As this value is subjective and dynamic, this study developed a reliable system for e-commerce factor evaluation. Using the proposed methodology, companies can constantly monitor and assess indicators influencing customer satisfaction and gain awareness of consumer behavior’s dynamics in online shopping. e-commerce marketers can employ the obtained results to decide how to organize order execution and optimize supply chains. Identifying the most important components of the e-commerce value, managers of online retailers can better run online sales platforms, increase customer loyalty, and thus, improve company’s online performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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17 pages, 3898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Lock-In Effect” of China’s Industrialization: An Empirical Analysis of the County-Level Cities in Southern Jiangsu

by Kai Zhu and Wanxiang Sun

Systems 2022, 10(6), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060209 - 4 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1788

Abstract

This paper defines and explains the “lock-in effect” in China’s industrialization process using the county-level cities in southern Jiangsu while considering both internationalized and localized views. An empirical analysis of two typical representative indicators, per capita economic output and economic structure, using 2002, [...] Read more.

This paper defines and explains the “lock-in effect” in China’s industrialization process using the county-level cities in southern Jiangsu while considering both internationalized and localized views. An empirical analysis of two typical representative indicators, per capita economic output and economic structure, using 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019 official statistical data demonstrate that capital, labor and other traditional factors still play a role in the current “lock-in effect”. New elements, such as human capital, are manifesting their growing importance. Public services, such as science and technology, education, medical and health care, social safety and employment, are gradually exerting their influence to optimize the economic structure. This paper promotes pertinent development decisions associated with the “lock-in effect” that must be considered during current industrialization processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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19 pages, 1618 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Philanthropy Influence Innovation Management Systems? A Moderated Mediation Model with a Social Exchange Perspective

by Lu He and Minghui Jiang

Systems 2022, 10(6), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060206 - 3 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1927

Abstract

Social philanthropy and innovation systems both require significant resource investment—how can organizations achieve both? This paper combines social exchange theory, signaling theory and imprinting theory to analyze the intrinsic dynamics mechanism from the perspective of government technology resource acquisition and to explore the [...] Read more.

Social philanthropy and innovation systems both require significant resource investment—how can organizations achieve both? This paper combines social exchange theory, signaling theory and imprinting theory to analyze the intrinsic dynamics mechanism from the perspective of government technology resource acquisition and to explore the influential role of generalist CEOs. Based on the hand-collected multidimensional career experience dataset of CEOs and the quantitative analysis of 3651 enterprises in China’s A-share listed manufacturing industry from 2010–2019, the results show that: philanthropic donation has a systematic contribution to corporate innovation investment, in which government science and technology (S&T) resource acquisition plays a partially mediating role; generalist CEOs significantly enhance the effect of philanthropic donations and government S&T resource acquisition on innovation investment. Finally, the statistical results remain stable in the lagged effects experiment and the IV-2SLS model analysis using exogenous variables. The contribution of this study lies in expanding the research on maximizing the combined benefits of economic value creation and social performance from a social exchange perspective, and helping us understand why the share of generalists in the global managerial market big data has been steadily increasing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 1592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revitalization and Development Strategies of Fostering Urban Cultural Heritage Villages: A Quantitative Analysis Integrating Expert and Local Resident Opinions

by Ge Sheng, Leqi Liao, Lei Xiong, Bo-Wei Zhu and Sze Man Cheung

Systems 2022, 10(6), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060202 - 31 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3330

Abstract

In order to promote sustainable development and economic growth, the city shall pay attention to the interaction rule between local cultural heritage resources and community residents, and advance the continuous consolidation of local cultural identity in the process of community activation and renewal. [...] Read more.

In order to promote sustainable development and economic growth, the city shall pay attention to the interaction rule between local cultural heritage resources and community residents, and advance the continuous consolidation of local cultural identity in the process of community activation and renewal. This poses a key challenge for many cities to continue to promote community renewal and activation of urban villages. In this study, the FI-RST model was constructed to effectively manage such projects by taking both top-down and bottom-up decision-making thinking into consideration in the formulation of the revitalization development strategies of urban villages. South China’s Huangpu Village in Guangzhou City is taken as an example in this study to clarify the logical relationship between the top-down key points of community activation and renewal development and the consolidation of local cultural identity by respecting the rules of community life and behavior, and then the Huangpu Village revitalization and development strategies are developed. A new multi-attribute decision analysis model is developed and utilized in this study, which provides a project management idea for the activation of urban cultural heritage villages, that is a model that not only supports community renewal and cultural activation, but also pays attention to community residents’ needs and emotional feedback. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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10 pages, 880 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Approaches for Exploring the Influence of Education as Positional Good for Economic Outcomes

by Anamaria Beatrice Aldea, Ana-Maria Zamfir and Adriana AnaMaria Davidescu

Systems 2022, 10(6), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10060197 - 24 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1738

Abstract

Education is one of the most important drivers for development and wellbeing both at the level of the society and at an individual level. Recognising the key role of education for social development, economic growth and individual wellbeing, education expansion has become an [...] Read more.

Education is one of the most important drivers for development and wellbeing both at the level of the society and at an individual level. Recognising the key role of education for social development, economic growth and individual wellbeing, education expansion has become an important objective for educational systems across the world. Education influences distribution of economic outcomes, making people pursue more education in order to obtain higher rewards. While expansion of education accelerates, new theories treat education as a positional good. From this perspective, due to its positional character, returns to education are affected in situations of skills imbalances characterised by a supply of graduates that surpasses the demand of the labour market. This paper employs this new perspective and explores the influence of education on economic outcomes in Romania. The authors present and discuss the use of traditional and new quantitative methods in order to shed light on the positional character of education. Our findings show that, in the case of Romania, the expansion of education did not reach the point at which education can be considered a positional good. The application of such methods is useful to inform a data-driven governance system targeting a better match between the supply and demand for education and skills. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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19 pages, 377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Household Registration, Old-Age Insurance, and Consumption: Evidence from China

by Jin Zou, Xu Fu, Chi Gong and Lin Yi Ye

Systems 2022, 10(5), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10050179 - 6 Oct 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2473

Abstract

Understanding migrants’ status and socio-economic outcomes can help develop immigrant societies. Household registration in China plays a vital role in migrants’ status to provide an excellent research environment. Based on panel data from the Institute of Social Science Survey (CFPS) from 2012 to [...] Read more.

Understanding migrants’ status and socio-economic outcomes can help develop immigrant societies. Household registration in China plays a vital role in migrants’ status to provide an excellent research environment. Based on panel data from the Institute of Social Science Survey (CFPS) from 2012 to 2020, this paper investigates the impact of various old-age insurance schemes on urban residents’ consumption with the difference in household registration. The result shows that insurance increases consumption more in a higher benefit scheme due to a lower level of precautionary saving motivation. Household registration reduces consumption by causing disparities in insurance coverage. Even after matching propensity scores to adjust for baseline differences between agricultural and non-agricultural households in cities, residents with agricultural registration participate more in a lower benefit scheme of old-age insurance. Furthermore, agricultural households consume less than non-agricultural households despite receiving the same old-age insurance scheme, owing to a greater incentive for precautionary savings. This finding sheds light on the relationship between economic behavior and social conditions with significant policy implications for the economic assimilation of migrants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

25 pages, 12661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation and System Coupling of Beautiful Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Construction Based on Point of Interest Data

by Hejie Wei, Yueyuan Yang, Qing Han, Ling Li, Junchang Huang, Mengxue Liu and Weiqiang Chen

Systems 2022, 10(5), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10050149 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

The unique high-frigid environment and poor natural conditions of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) have limited sustainable economic and social development. The construction of the beautiful QTP is a concrete implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, identifying the progress and system coupling [...] Read more.

The unique high-frigid environment and poor natural conditions of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) have limited sustainable economic and social development. The construction of the beautiful QTP is a concrete implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, identifying the progress and system coupling relationships of beautiful QTP construction entails some barriers due to data and methodological issues. To evaluate beautiful QTP construction and achieve a coordinated development regime, this paper employs an analytic hierarchy process and coupling model to quantify the comprehensive index and the coupling relationships of five subsystems (i.e., ecological environment, cultural inheritance, social harmony, industrial development, and institutional perfection) based on point of interest (POI) data, which are highly accurate, containing quantity and location information. Meanwhile, spatial autocorrelation analysis is conducted on the comprehensive index and coupling coordination degree for identifying the spatial clustering characteristics of the two. Results show that the progress of the beautiful QTP construction in most counties are under a very low or low level. For the system coupling perspective, 86% of counties are under the coupling stage indicating a strong interaction among the subsystems. However, coordination is out of harmony in most counties. For the spatial clustering characteristics, the comprehensive index and the system coupling relationships of beautiful QTP construction show a positive spatial correlation, indicating an aggregation effect. The aggregation is mostly “low–low” and “high–high” aggregation indicating the spatial differences and regional imbalances. The government should adopt measures to make the five subsystems of beautiful QTP construction more synergistic to achieve the sustainable development of the QTP. Our study formed a sample case of special areas where statistical data are scarce while constructing a technical framework of Beautiful China construction that is applicable to these areas. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for improving the beautiful QTP or other similar areas of construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Consociation Model: Organization of Collective Entrepreneurship for Village Revitalization

by Haiying Lin, Yanyan Li and Li Zhou

Systems 2022, 10(4), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040127 - 21 Aug 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2017

Abstract

This study focused on how rural communities adopted consociational mechanisms to organize collective entrepreneurship, addressing the conflicts across the divergent social groups toward a convergent process that allows different entrepreneurs to fold into a grand coalition. It extended the theory of consociation from [...] Read more.

This study focused on how rural communities adopted consociational mechanisms to organize collective entrepreneurship, addressing the conflicts across the divergent social groups toward a convergent process that allows different entrepreneurs to fold into a grand coalition. It extended the theory of consociation from political science to the field of social entrepreneurship and inductively theorized the dimensional mechanisms based on the collective entrepreneurial effort of Yuan village in Shaanxi province of China. The results demonstrated four streams of consociational mechanisms: (1) emancipation to empower the vulnerable groups, (2) reconciliation of divergent interests, (3) reflection learning to generate reciprocity, and (4) proportional participation to institutionalize a hierarchical order in the community. These results advance the consociation theory and the organization of social change literature with strong policy implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

22 pages, 1366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urban Rail Transit System and Sustainable Urban Development

by Liudan Jiao, Fengyan Wu, Yinghan Zhu, Qiudie Luo, Fenglian Luo and Yu Zhang

Systems 2022, 10(4), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040110 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2508

Abstract

With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit [...] Read more.

With the accelerating urbanization and steady economic development in China, the urban built-up area is expanding and the population in the core area is proliferating. The pressure of insufficient urban infrastructure, especially public transportation capacity, is becoming increasingly evident, and urban rail transit (URT) systems are crucial to the sustainable development of cities. This paper collects data related to URT and sustainable urban development (SUD) in 42 cities in China in 2020, constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system, and quantitatively analyzes the coupling coordination degree of the two systems using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method and coupling coordination degree model. Then, the influencing factors of the coupling coordination degree of URT and SUD are analyzed by combining the grey correlation analysis method. The results of this study show that: (1) There are significant differences between URT system development and SUD in 42 cities in China. (2) The average coupling coordination between URT development and SUD is 0.4406. More than half of the cities are in the slightly unbalanced category. (3) Factors, such as resident population, income level and urban built-up area, significantly influence the coupling and coordination level of URT and SUD. It is hoped that the research in this paper will advance the in-depth research on the level of coordination between URT and SUD coupling, provide a solid basis for future URT planning and construction in China and even other countries in the world, and make the planning and construction of URT in China more scientific and reasonable, to promote the sustainable development of cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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34 pages, 4061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Study on the Performance Evaluation of Spatial Governance of Village and Town Business Communities

by Xiaoqing Zhu, Hanyuan Shi, Zhixing Li, Yuebin Zhong and Kening Zhu

Systems 2022, 10(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040109 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2162

Abstract

In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR [...] Read more.

In order to study the performance evaluation of spatial governance of village and town business communities, this paper establishes a five-dimensional system: industrial upgrading (I), environmental renovation (E), life quality (L), humanistic characteristics (H), and governance of society (G) based on the PSR (pressure–state–response) model. In the study, twelve village and town business communities of different types in the Anji County of China are selected as empirical cases; field research and information interviews are conducted in each sample community; the constructed project libraries and constructed ledgers in the past three years are adopted. The GIS 10.2 software is used to draw a policy fund distribution map for spatial governance, compare and study the core characteristics of financial investment for spatial governance in each sample community, and reveal how important the application of the evaluation system is for its performance analysis. The “precise strategies” and “driving foundations” of the spatial governance of village and town business communities are summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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18 pages, 7321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Multi-Dimensional Analysis Approach to Teaching and Learning Analytics in Higher Education

by Qingyun Li, Peter Duffy and Zhongyang Zhang

Systems 2022, 10(4), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10040096 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3160

Abstract

E-learning platforms are being used in higher education to liberate teaching and learning from the constraints of time, pace, and space. These platforms provide rich media content, collaborative assessment, and analytics tools and support learning through a variety of online possibilities. However, the [...] Read more.

E-learning platforms are being used in higher education to liberate teaching and learning from the constraints of time, pace, and space. These platforms provide rich media content, collaborative assessment, and analytics tools and support learning through a variety of online possibilities. However, the focus of most of this research is on learning analytics inside e-learning platforms and does not cover other related institutional surveys and educator professional development activities. This paper outlines a novel conceptual approach for the creation of a teaching and learning data warehouse analytics system that utilizes a Multi-Dimensional Analysis approach to teaching and learning analytics across these e-learning platforms in combination with other institutional data sources, such as various institutional surveys, tracking of professional development activities, and analysis of the use of the learning management system. The novel teaching and learning data warehouse analytics system (TLDWAS) is being developed at Lingnan University, a leading liberal arts university in Hong Kong. The genesis of this project is analyzing large volumes of teaching and learning data and presenting a big picture for senior management to gain insight from massive amounts of student courses and teacher evaluation data, fill the research gaps mentioned above, and help educators identify problems and solutions more effectively. The TLDWAS provides a visual interface for identifying some indicators and storing, classifying, and analyzing teaching and learning data in various forms to generate statistics, analyze models, and identify meaningful patterns in the data in order to improve teaching and learning. The TLDWAS not only provides more evidence-based decision-making for senior management but is also capable of being applied to identify patterns and relations pertaining to students’ academic performance, usage of e-learning systems, and associated staff development activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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25 pages, 534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Coupling between the Double Cycle Mode and Technological Innovation Systems: Empirical Evidence from Data Envelopment Analysis and Coupled Coordination

by Shuang Lv, Shaodong Zhao and Hongda Liu

Systems 2022, 10(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10030062 - 9 May 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

China is striving to build a new dual-circulation development pattern with the aim of leading the coupling of science, technology, and innovation through the active role of financial factors, ultimately promoting the country’s optimal economic development. As a result, this paper constructs a [...] Read more.

China is striving to build a new dual-circulation development pattern with the aim of leading the coupling of science, technology, and innovation through the active role of financial factors, ultimately promoting the country’s optimal economic development. As a result, this paper constructs a coupled dual-circulation-STI (scientific and technological innovation) relationship model. The domestic and foreign components of the input–output relationship are used to portray the extent of the dual circulation, combined with Index DEA to measure the quality of science and technology innovation under the role of financial factors and the coupled coordination model to analyze the intrinsic correlation between the two. The study used an Index-DEA and value chain analysis model to measure each industry’s technological effectiveness and the degree of internal and external circulation, respectively. The coupled coordination model approach was used to measure the coordination relationship between the double-loop model and technological innovation. Based on the coordination assessment table, the degree of coupling and the natural state of science and technology innovation and dual cycle in each industry were assessed. The study found that the country’s dual-circulation pattern gradually strengthened from 2015–2019, with the financial element also driving an increase in STI. However, due to the twists and turns of the external environment, the coupling power of the dual-circulation STI weakened in some years. On this basis, the paper concludes that the quality of STI, driven by financial factors, has been increasing year on year, and the coupling with dual circulation has been trending upwards. Regarding policy implications, developing countries such as China should continue to invest more financially to create a healthy and sustainable innovation model. Through the innovation-dual-circulation development model, the country should eliminate the sloppy development model in construction and use the power of science and technology to lead social progress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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17 pages, 3851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Eco-Efficiency Assessment of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration Based on Emergy Analysis and Two-Layer System Dynamics

by Huanhuan Huo, Haiyan Liu, Xinzhong Bao and Wei Cui

Systems 2022, 10(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10030061 - 8 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2478

Abstract

In the process of the economic development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration, ecological and environmental issues are still an important factor restricting high-quality development. The study of eco-efficiency is of great significance for coordinating the relationship between economy, resources and environment. This paper [...] Read more.

In the process of the economic development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration, ecological and environmental issues are still an important factor restricting high-quality development. The study of eco-efficiency is of great significance for coordinating the relationship between economy, resources and environment. This paper used a combinated method of two-layer system dynamics and emergy analysis to construct an emergy–system dynamics coupling model for eco-efficiency evaluation from the subsystems of resource flow, energy flow, currency flow and population flow of urban system, which is used to simulate and analyze the eco-efficiency of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. The results show that the overall eco-efficiency of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration is not high, with an average value of 0.3786, and there is a trend of the value rising first and then falling from 2000 to 2035. The index values of emergy waste rate, contaminant emergy ratio, emergy output rate and environmental load rate after the decomposition of the eco-efficiency show that the high environmental pressure, the low re-use rate of pollutants and the low production efficiency of the system are important reasons for the low eco-efficiency in regional economic development. Finally, through scenario simulation, we propose that optimizing the economic structure, adjusting the population size and rationally arranging the fixed assets investment are conducive to improving the eco-efficiency of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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29 pages, 4756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Supply and Demand of Aged Services Resource Allocation in China: A System Dynamics Model

by Yijie Zhang, Mingli Zhang, Haiju Hu and Xiaolong He

Systems 2022, 10(3), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10030059 - 2 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3226

Abstract

With the rapid growth of the elderly population of China in recent years, the service demands of older Chinese people continue to increase. The increasingly severe situation with respect to the elderly population is an important social problem that China will face for [...] Read more.

With the rapid growth of the elderly population of China in recent years, the service demands of older Chinese people continue to increase. The increasingly severe situation with respect to the elderly population is an important social problem that China will face for a long time into the future. It is urgent to solve the problem of how to scientifically carry out allocation planning of service resources for the aged and guide the effective supply of service resources. This paper analyzes the factors affecting service resources for the aged, divides China’s service resource supply and demand system into a supply subsystem, a demand subsystem, and a population and economy subsystem. Using system dynamics methods to analyze the causal relationship between variables and the state space method to build a mathematical model and perform simulation analysis, we research the the current situation of China’s service resources supply and demand balance for the aged. In addition, we put forward resource configuration optimization measures for the future allocation of service resources for the aged, providing a practical basis for future decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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24 pages, 2352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Financing Risk Factors of Expressway REITs in China with a Hybrid Approach

by Yimeng Song and Shengyue Hao

Systems 2022, 10(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems10020038 - 18 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4710

Abstract

Finding sustainable measures for expressway financing has long been a significant issue owing to high demand for funds of expressway construction and maintenance of existing facilities. In the Chinese context of expressway financing it has become imperative to shift from indirect bank financing [...] Read more.

Finding sustainable measures for expressway financing has long been a significant issue owing to high demand for funds of expressway construction and maintenance of existing facilities. In the Chinese context of expressway financing it has become imperative to shift from indirect bank financing to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). This research investigates the impact of various factors on the financing risk of expressway REITs and estimates the weight of the impact of various aspects and the link between the factors. We used literature review, keyword co-occurrence analysis and keyword cluster analysis methods to identify 19 risk factors that affect the financing of expressway REITs, then we classified factors into six dimensions: credit risk, underlying asset risk, operational risk, market risk, liquidity risk, and other risk. In addition, a multi-level hierarchical structure model was established by the Integrated Decision-Making and Trial Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and an interpretative structural model (ISM). The research finds that the project’s future cash flow under-expected risk, price risk, and counterparty limited risk are direct factors, the bankruptcy isolation of the underlying assets risk is a deep factor affecting the financing of expressway REITs, and other factors are indirect factors. This study fills the gap in financing risk of expressway REITs in the context of China and contributes to exploring and establishing the financing risks identification approach and risk factors in expressway REITs based on Chinese contexts. This research presents a theoretical foundation and methodologies for reducing the financing risk of expressway REITs projects and improving financing safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Trends on the Development of Integrated and Robust Social Development Management Systems)

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