Search Results (66)

The corporate water use audit system is an important part of implementing China’s strictest water resource management system and building a water-saving society. Since 2009, seven provinces (municipalities/autonomous regions) in China have begun to explore corporate water audits. However, conflicts of interest between the Chinese government, water-using enterprises, and commissioned third-party auditors may lead to the ineffective promotion of the corporate water audit policy. In this paper, we study corporate water auditing behavior from the perspective of information asymmetry, construct an evolutionary game model of the three parties, explore the strategy choices of each party, study the asymptotic stability of the evolutionary stability problem via numerical methods, and analyze the impact of parameter changes on it. The study shows that, firstly, strict governmental supervision plays a key role in promoting the implementation of corporate water audit systems. Incentive subsidies had a positive and direct impact on firms and auditors in the water audit system. Secondly, the higher rent-seeking costs of tripartite audit institutions affect the probability of firms’ participation in rent-seeking. As a social institution, regulation and penalties for firms should be strengthened to reduce the risk of information asymmetry. The results of this study provide insights into the existence of asymmetry problems and possible coping strategies. Full article

The crisis of research integrity triggered by academic misconduct, such as scientific fraud and paper retractions, has emerged as a critical issue demanding urgent resolution within the academic community. Blockchain (BC), with its core features of distributed ledger, peer-to-peer transmission, consensus mechanisms, timestamps, and smart contracts, offers novel technical solutions for research institutions seeking efficient models of research credit supervision. By incorporating the psychological factors of risk perception among decision-makers and the dynamic evolution of behavioral decision-making, and drawing on prospect theory, this study has constructed an evolutionary game model involving researchers, scientific research institutions, and governmental entities to examine BC-enabled research credit supervision. This model analyzes the key determinants influencing scientific research institutions’ adoption of blockchain regulation (BC regulation), elucidates the behavioral characteristics and boundary conditions of research integrity among researchers under this new regulatory paradigm, and reveals the dynamic evolutionary trajectory of collaborative supervision between governments and scientific research institutions. The findings indicate the following: (1) Compared to traditional regulation, the BC regulation demonstrates superior regulatory effectiveness at equivalent levels of researcher integrity and misconduct costs, as well as under identical settings for reputational loss and penalties. (2) In addition to cost considerations and government subsidies, factors such as loss aversion coefficient, risk preference coefficient, and privacy breach losses are critical in influencing research institutions’ decisions to implement BC regulation. (3) The evolution of blockchain-empowered regulatory models encompasses three distinct evolutionary patterns. This study provides a theoretical foundation and a simulation case to optimize regulatory strategy formulation and resource allocation, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of research credit supervision. Full article

The research aims to evaluate financial instruments on household uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy towards different risk scenarios. The study addresses the problem of behavioral response to financial incentives when technological, financial, or institutional risks are perceived as continuous. Two sophisticated models were used for the analysis to quantify the effect of subsidies, green loans, personal income, energy costs, and governmental support for energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake. The research data came from the UK, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Ukraine between 2022 and 2024. The results suggest that countries experiencing drops in risk indices with strong institutional support, such as Germany and the UK, had maximum improvement in energy efficiency (as high as 598.72 kWh saved a year) and renewable energy implementation rates (above 30%). Countries posing high risk, like Ukraine, require more potent and custom-made strategies to achieve comparable advances compared to a less-risky environment. The evidence indicates that even financial mechanisms are most fruitful if they are complemented by risk management tactics. With these results, policymakers can proceed with useful information in formulating economically appropriate strategies that rely on realistic assumptions of behavior. Full article

This paper analyzes the potential of hydrogen technologies in transport, placing it within the context of global environmental and energy challenges. Its primary purpose is to evaluate the prospects for the implementation of these technologies at international and national levels, including Poland. This study utilizes a literature review and an analysis of the results of a highly limited, exploratory pilot survey measuring public perception of hydrogen technology in transport. It is critical to note that the survey was conducted on a small, non-representative sample and exhibited a strong geographical bias, primarily collecting responses from Europe (50 people) and North America (30 people). This study also details hydrogen vehicle types (FCEV, HICE) and the essential infrastructure required (HRS). Despite solid technological foundations, the development of hydrogen technology heavily relies on non-technical factors, such as infrastructure development, support policy, and social acceptance. Globally, the number of vehicles and stations is growing but remains limited, with the pace of development correlating with the involvement of countries. The pilot survey revealed a generally positive perception of the technology (mainly due to environmental benefits) but highlighted three key barriers: limited availability of refueling infrastructure—51.5% of respondents strongly agreed on this obstacle, high purchase and maintenance costs, and insufficient public awareness. Infrastructure subsidies and tax breaks were identified as effective incentives. Hydrogen technology offers a potentially competitive and sustainable transport solution, but it demands significant systemic support, intensive investment in large-scale infrastructure expansion, and comprehensive educational activities. Further governmental engagement is crucial. The severe limitations resulting from the pilot nature of the survey should be rigorously taken into account during interpretation. Full article

Aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 11 and 13), this study examines how dynamic subsidy thresholds steer environmental resilience, social inclusion, and fiscal sustainability in China’s urban renewal. Using evolutionary game theory (EGT) and system dynamics (SD), stakeholder strategies are modeled under varying policy interventions, with key parameters calibrated through Chongqing’s LZ case and MATLAB simulations. These include government subsidies (M₁, M₂), penalties (S₂), and stakeholder benefits (R₁–R₅). The results reveal the following two distinct types of critical thresholds: a universal and robust fiscal warning line for developers (M₁ > 600 k RMB) and a threshold for residential subsidies that is moderated by psycho-social factors (M₂), with its value fluctuating within a certain range (approximately 550 k RMB to 850 k RMB). A sequential synergy pathway is proposed: “government-led facilitation → developer-driven implementation (when R₃ > 450 k RMB) → resident participation (triggered by R₂ > 150 k RMB).” The study advocates differentiated incentives and penalties, prioritizing early-stage governmental leadership to foster trust, promote inclusive participation, and align with environmental, social, and economic sustainability goals. This integrated framework reveals critical policy leverage points for enhancing social and fiscal resilience, providing a replicable model for sustainable and resilient urban governance in the Global South. Full article

Driven by the urgent need to decarbonize the logistics sector—where conventional vehicles exhibit high energy consumption and emissions, posing significant environmental sustainability challenges—electrification represents a pivotal strategy for reducing emissions and achieving sustainable urban freight transport. Despite rising global electric vehicle sales, the penetration rate of electric logistics vehicles (ELVs) remains comparatively low, impeding progress toward sustainable logistics objectives. Battery-swapping mode (BSM) has emerged as a potential solution to enhance operational efficiency and economic viability, thereby accelerating sustainable adoption. This model improves ELV operational efficiency through rapid battery swaps at centralized stations. This study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving government, consumers, and BSM-ELV manufacturers to analyze market dynamics under diverse strategies. Key considerations include market scale, government environmental benefits, battery leasing/purchasing costs, lifecycle cost analysis (via discount rates), and resource efficiency (reserve battery ratio $\lambda$). MATLAB-2021b-based simulations predict participant strategy evolution paths. Findings reveal that market size and manufacturer expectations significantly influence governmental and manufacturing strategies. Crucially, incorporating discount rates demonstrates that battery leasing reduces consumer enterprises’ initial investment, enhancing economic sustainability and cash flow while offering superior total cost of ownership. Furthermore, gradual reduction of government subsidies effectively stimulates market self-regulation, incentivizes leasing adoption, and bolsters long-term economic/operational sustainability. Market feedback can guide policy adjustments toward fiscally sustainable support mechanisms. This study proposes the following management implications for advancing sustainable logistics: 1. Governments should phase out subsidies systematically to foster market resilience; 2. Manufacturers must invest in BSM R&D to improve efficiency and resource circularity; 3. Consumer enterprises can achieve economic benefits and emission reductions by adopting BSM-ELVs. Full article

(1) Background: Traditional logistics training faces challenges like high costs, limited scalability, and safety risks. Virtual Reality Movie Training (VRMT) enhances operational accuracy, safety, and accessibility through immersive simulation. However, adoption faces barriers including high equipment costs, immature technology, and coordination challenges among logistics enterprises, design companies, and government entities. This study explores strategic interactions to optimize VRMT adoption. (2) Methods: A tripartite evolutionary game model was used to analyze strategic interactions between logistics enterprises, design companies, and government. (3) Results: System stability occurs when logistics enterprises adopt VRMT, design companies deliver high-quality solutions, and government provides active support. Simulations reveal stronger adoption coefficients through increased employee acceptance and enhanced training quality. Government incentives and brand premiums significantly influence quality design provision, though excessive subsidies may reduce governmental willingness to support initiatives. (4) Conclusions: Cost minimization and accessibility improvement require batch hardware purchasing, optimized training cycles, and shared platforms at logistics enterprises. Design companies should optimize content development for cost-effectiveness while maintaining quality standards to leverage brand benefits. Governments should establish VRMT quality certification, invest in public VR platforms for SMEs, and convert accident savings into fiscal supplements. This tripartite collaboration enables efficient, safe, and sustainable logistics training transformation. Full article

In the context of global climate governance and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) stringent carbon reduction targets, the transition to green shipping fuels faces systemic challenges in supply chain coordination. This study focuses on the strategic interactions between governments and enterprises in the construction of green fuel supply chains. By constructing a multidimensional scenario framework encompassing time, technological development, social attention, policy intensity, and market competition, and using evolutionary game models and system dynamics simulations, we reveal the dynamic evolution mechanism of government–enterprise decision making. System dynamics simulations reveal that (1) short-term government intervention accelerates infrastructure development but risks subsidy inefficiency; (2) medium-term policy stability and market-driven mechanisms are critical for sustaining enterprise investments; and (3) high social awareness and mature technologies significantly reduce strategic uncertainty. This research advances the application of evolutionary game theory in sustainable supply chains and offers a decision support framework for balancing governmental roles and market forces in maritime decarbonization. Full article

Amid accelerating population aging and the rapid evolution of digital technologies, the digital transformation of rural elderly care services has become a pivotal strategy for restructuring the rural elderly care system. This study identified the local government, rural elderly care service centers, and the elderly population as the principal stakeholders, and developed a tripartite evolutionary game-theory model to examine the dynamic strategic interactions among these actors under the influence of digital technologies. The model further investigated the evolutionary trajectories and equilibrium conditions of their behavioral strategies. Numerical simulations conducted via MATLAB were employed to validate and visualize the model outcomes. The findings revealed the following. (1) The evolutionary equilibrium of digital elderly care service development in rural areas is jointly determined by the strategic choices of the three parties, with its stability shaped by a complex interplay of cost structures, incentive mechanisms, and utility outcomes. (2) Cost factors exhibit heterogeneous effects across stakeholders. Specifically, excessive regulatory costs diminish the performance incentives of local governments, digital infrastructure and operational expenditures influence service centers’ capacity for precision-oriented service delivery, and the participation of the elderly is constrained by affordability thresholds. (3) Local government behavior demonstrates a pronounced sensitivity to incentives. In particular, rewards and social reputation conferred by higher-level governmental bodies exert a significantly stronger influence than punitive measures. (4) Government subsidies for digital transformation enhance cross-stakeholder synergy through dual transmission channels. Nonetheless, excessive subsidies may escalate fiscal risk, while moderately calibrated penalty mechanisms effectively curb moral hazard within service centers. This study advances theoretical understanding of multi-stakeholder coordination in the context of digitally enabled rural elderly care and provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to formulate interest-aligned strategies and construct resilient, intelligent governance systems for elderly care. Full article

The Industry–Finance Collaboration Pilot (IFCP) integrates governmental green guidance with digital collaboration platforms to promote non-equity-based cooperation between industrial and financial sectors. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach and a sample of A-share listed industrial firms on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2011 to 2023, this study examines the IFCP’s impact on corporate green innovation (GI). Results show that the IFCP increases the number of green patent applications by 7.5% on average, indicating its effect in stimulating GI. This effect operates through two main mechanisms. First, under governmental green guidance, the IFCP encourages local green fiscal subsidies, increases green investor participation, improves environmental information disclosure, and lowers agency costs. Second, through digital finance empowerment, it mitigates information asymmetry and transaction costs in financial activities, thereby reducing credit costs and enhancing firms’ access to green credit. The effect of the IFCP on GI is more pronounced in regions with stricter environmental regulation, in pollution-intensive industries, and among firms with smaller asset sizes. Further analysis indicates that the IFCP primarily stimulates tactical, low-value GI driven by compliance or opportunistic motives, rather than promoting substantive, high-quality innovation. This study provides empirical evidence and policy insights into how governmental green guidance and digital finance empowerment can jointly promote green industrial development. Full article

This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving governments, shipping enterprises, and shippers to analyze the dynamic interactions and strategic decision-making regarding carbon emission reduction within the shipping industry. The model examines how subsidies, penalties, and supervisory mechanisms influence stakeholders’ behavioral trajectories and equilibrium outcomes. The key findings reveal that the government’s active regulatory strategy evolves inversely with the probabilities of proactive emission reduction by enterprises and shipper supervision, while the likelihood of enterprises adopting low-carbon strategies increases with governmental and shipper engagement. Under a single reward-and-penalty framework, only subsidies can guide the studied system toward an evolutionary equilibrium characterized by active regulation, proactive emission reduction, and supervision. In a mixed reward-and-penalty scenario, increasing subsidy levels is crucial to achieving an equilibrium between passive regulation, proactive emission reduction, and supervision. Our sensitivity analysis highlights that subsidies for enterprises and shippers have a greater impact than penalties, although excessive subsidies may strain governmental budgets. Additional emission reduction costs and benefits are also key factors that affect the carbon emission reduction strategies of shipping enterprises. Full article

High operational costs discourage shipping carriers from adopting green technologies, thereby exacerbating carbon emissions. Government subsidies can address the financial predicament faced by carriers. However, previous studies have overlooked whether governmental subsidies can help mitigate carbon emissions with intensified competition in both price and service between carriers, alongside rising environmental consciousness from shippers. To fill in this gap, game-theoretic models have been developed to explore optimal strategies for each partner of a shipping supply chain under three scenarios. Optimal solutions are derived through model analysis, followed by numerical analysis. Our findings are as follows: (1) the provision of governmental subsidization is conducive to a significant decrease in carbon emission with carriers’ price-and-service competition and shippers’ green awareness; (2) freight prices, profits and social welfare are all negatively related to government subsidies in a certain price-competitive environment; (3) price competition intensity is not conducive to carbon emission reduction but can benefit prices and social welfare; and (4) both low-carbon preference and intensified service competition jointly benefit profits and social welfare but are detrimental to carbon emission reduction. Our paper provides several meaningful insights for governments and shipping companies in formulating emission reduction strategies, contributing to environmental benefits and supporting the achievement of sustainability goals. Full article

This study aims at exploring the importance of the governmental functions in establishing alternative marine fuel (AMF) supply chains at the early stage of shipping decarbonization and providing proposals of the main measures to be taken by governments. It first analyzes the significance of these supply chains based on the adaptability analysis of AMFs from the perspective of their respective potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, costs, safety, and availability, mainly by way of a literature review. Then, the importance of governmental functions in establishing these supply chains is probed based on the features of these supply chains and by applying the theory of economics concerning the relationship between the government and the market. Finally, four specific measures to be taken by governments in establishing these supply chains are explored and proposed. The findings of a questionnaire investigation conducted in China are cited in support of the theoretical analysis. The main conclusions of this study reflecting its main contribution thereof are: AMF supply chains are crucial in achieving shipping decarbonization goals; government intervention is needed to rectify the disadvantages of market mechanisms in establishing these supply chains; as the main measures, governments need to develop strategic plans and policies, take appropriate market-based measures of tax incentives, fiscal subsidies, and/or other economic incentives, provide administrative guidance, and enhance international cooperation. Full article

In the era of the green digital economy, network platforms as a new form of economic format have gained significant attention from e-commerce companies. This paper intends to address the channel selection strategy for e-commerce enterprises and the coordination of the whole supply chain under the government’s green subsidy policy. Game theory is used to analyze the strategy of channel selection based on logistics distribution, e-commerce platform, consumer preference, and green governmental subsidy. The findings are as follows: (1) Self-established logistics cost and platform commission rates are important factors affecting channel selection. With the increase in consumers’ preference for a green economy, consumers are more inclined to choose platform channels. (2) Green governmental subsidies represent an advantageous strategy for the whole supply chain, and under its influence, the Pareto improvement of the supply chain can be realized. (3) Cooperation with other companies using the platform franchise system can maximize the benefits of the supply chain, which also can improve consumer satisfaction and increase the profits of e-commerce enterprises at the same time. In conclusion, a platform franchise contract is proposed to coordinate the supply chain and realize the rapid development of the green economy. Full article

The green transformation of construction enterprises (GTCEs) is an important way to develop green buildings and realize the goal of “double carbon”. The GTCEs is not only influenced by the internal characteristics of the group but also influenced by the governmental orientation and the pull of the consumer groups. This paper simultaneously considers the heterogeneity of consumer groups and construction enterprise groups, coupling the improved SIR dissemination model, complex network model, and evolutionary game model to describe the dynamic interaction process between construction enterprise groups, government, and consumer groups and to explore the evolution law of GTCEs. The results show that (1) Appropriately increase in green R&D investment by construction enterprises for higher returns, the government’s subsidy and penalty policies and a higher carbon trading price have a positive effect on the GTCEs; (2) a positive social climate, along with the government’s publicity and education, the higher technology level of construction enterprises, and the higher green cognition and lower risk perception level of consumers will strongly promote the GTCEs; and (3) a steady development of the GTCEs is guaranteed by the enterprises’ own inputs and the government’s joint measures on both the supply and demand sides. The conclusions of this study can be used as a reference for the government to formulate policies and for the green transformation and development of construction enterprises. Full article