Search

This paper examines the impact of digital financial inclusion (DFI) on household energy poverty. We develop a simple theoretical model to explain the energy poverty alleviation effect of DFI. Using multidimensional household energy consumption survey data, we find that DFI reduces the incidence of household energy poverty by about 33.5 % and the intensity of energy poverty by 24.6 %, driven mainly by improvements in energy efficiency and an increase in household off-farm work, resulting in a stronger role in rural and low-income groups. However, the threshold model demonstrates that the Internet and digital tools are a prerequisite for this pro-poor energy effect to be realized. Notably, DFI, while exhibiting spatial spillover effects, exacerbate energy poverty in neighboring areas due to the siphoning effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a theoretical model of voluntary intermunicipal cooperation and empirically tests its assertions through the French municipalities' choices of transferring their competences to the intermunicipal level. Using an original threshold models inference procedure, a probit model is estimated on shared competences. Two main results arise. Contrary to the decentralisation theorem prediction, citizens' preference heterogeneity does not hinder local cooperation, but fiscal potential heterogeneity does. Moreover, a zoo effect is at stake for some competences, for which a significant threshold effect in their transfer probability is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing energy poverty is integral to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and clean energy technology serves as an essential tool in mitigating this issue. Existing studies pay less attention to the correlation between the two. In this study, we quantify the spread of clean energy technology using patent citation information and analyze balanced panel data from 30 provinces in China spanning the years 2004 to 2019. The findings reveal that the diffusion of clean energy technology not only directly reduces energy poverty but also indirectly alleviates it by enhancing energy efficiency and fostering employment. However, the positive impact of technology on poverty is affected by human capital. Specifically, when the number of college students per 10,000 people in a province surpasses 179, technology diffusion becomes effective in alleviating energy poverty. Furthermore, the efficacy of this mitigation varies significantly based on different regions. Technologies originating from developed economies such as the United States, Japan, and the European Union exhibit a more substantial impact than domestic alternatives. Additionally, the effect of alleviating energy poverty is more significant in the eastern region. Therefore, we make policy recommendations for alleviating energy poverty through the use of incentive policies, exploring differentiated models of clean energy technology development, and strengthening international cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African countries are faced with many challenges, which have hindered growth and development, yet they are unable to implement policies to attract adequate external funding for addressing their growth and development challenges. Using a cross‐sectional panel data of 23 African countries, spanning 1996–2020, this study applied a novel panel structural autoregressive model and a modification of the recently introduced dynamic threshold model to analyse the foreign direct investment (FDI)‐growth‐poverty relationship at sectoral level. The study accounted for heterogeneity, simultaneity bias and cross‐sectional dependence in the modelling exercise. Findings suggest that shocks in FDI produced significant positive impact on manufacturing and services output performances in Africa in the short‐term. However, shocks in FDI did not stimulate appreciable effect on agricultural output performance over time. Moreover, the results show that the effect of FDI shocks on human development index (HDI) was greater in the short‐ to medium‐term than in the long‐term. The threshold regression results suggest that higher levels of FDI inflow and HDI are needed for macroeconomic factors to produce significant positive effects on sectoral output performance. This study therefore provided some valuable recommendations to guide evidence‐based policy making in Africa to improve sectoral output and welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital economy (DE) is emerging as a crucial driver of economic growth and an effective tool for alleviating resource and environmental pressures, thereby evolving into a significant force in facilitating green transformation. This study elaborates on the theoretical mechanism of the impact of DE on green total factor productivity (GTFP), and conducts multidimensional empirical tests using panel data from 284 cities in China. The main findings are as follows: (1) DE exerts significant positive direct, indirect, and spatial spillover effects on GTFP, signifying its growing role as a robust driver of GTFP. Notably, technological innovation emerges as a key mediator of DE’s impact on GTFP. (2) The impact of DE on GTFP exhibits a distinct pattern: initially pronounced, gradually diminishing, and then rebounding as DE progresses. (3) DE tends to exacerbate, rather than alleviate, the development divide and resource curse, especially in underdeveloped and resource-rich cities where its benefits are constrained. (4) Government behavior is pivotal in influencing DE’s impact on GTFP. Supportive policies and strict environmental regulations are critical in harnessing DE’s positive contributions to GTFP. This study lays a scientific foundation for leveraging the “green attributes” of DE and offers insights into bridging the developmental disparities among cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green insurance (GI), as an innovative product integrating environmental protection and the financial sector, not only contributes to improving regional environmental quality (EQ) but also enhances corporate environmental risk management and awareness, driving the flourishing development of green finance and the environmental protection industry. Therefore, understanding the relationship between GI and EQ is crucial. This article delves into the mechanisms through which GI influences EQ, proposing a hypothesis that suggests an inverted "U" shape impact. Subsequently, based on panel data from 30 provinces in China spanning from 2000 to 2021, nonlinear regression models and threshold regression models were constructed to test the hypothesis. The research findings indicate: (1) Results from the fixed-effects regression model demonstrate that the impact of GI on China's EQ follows an inverted "U" shape. (2) Results from the threshold regression model also reveal an inverted "U" shape impact of GI on China's EQ, with a threshold value of 2.196. (3) Economic level and industrial structure exhibit significant inhibitory effects on EQ improvement. Technological level and environmental regulations demonstrate notable promotional effects. Population size shows no significant impact on EQ improvement. The study identifies a nonlinear effect of GI on EQ improvement, surpassing existing linear effect research, deepening the understanding of its impact on EQ, and contributing to the enhancement of regional EQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policy objectives of affordable housing programs in China are two-fold: on the one hand, they are designed to assist low- and moderate-income families and reduce inequality; on the other hand, they are intended to lower commodity housing prices. However, the effects of affordable housing land on housing prices, particularly the between-city variation and the mechanisms behind the market effects, have not been sufficiently examined, making it difficult to evaluate the housing policy and improve it accordingly. In this study, we address these gaps by using a prefecture-level panel dataset covering 2009–2020, obtained from national land and housing transaction information platforms. We use a threshold model to investigate the threshold effect of population size and a mediating model to uncover the channels through which the supply of affordable housing land affects housing prices. The results confirm that the affordable housing land supply can have a beneficial influence in terms of slowing down the increase in housing prices. The population size plays a significant role in explaining the between-city market effect variations. In cities with a population greater than 10.78 million, increasing the supply of affordable housing land would cause the housing prices to increase. Meanwhile, in cities with smaller populations, increasing the supply of affordable housing land could lower the housing prices. The underlying mechanisms of the market effects vary across cities with different population sizes. Although affordable housing land crowds out commodity housing land in all cities, housing demand diversion only exists in cities with a smaller population. At present, China is experimenting with city-specific housing policies; our findings imply that decision makers should explore additional policy options, besides building on incremental construction land, in order to make housing more affordable in supercities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study explores the role of financial support in the digital transformation of Chinese A-share-listed companies from 2001 to 2020. By utilizing the moderating effect model and threshold regression model, this study finds the following results: (1) Digital transformation positively impacts innovation, and the support of banking and capital markets further strengthens this impact. (2) With the development of banking and capital markets, the impact of digital transformation on innovation changes from negative to positive, which is also reflected in the subsamples of Eastern companies, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), and non-SMEs. (3) The study reveals that only the capital market in the non-Eastern region has no threshold, and capital market support is effective only for non-SMEs when it reaches a higher level. These findings have important implications for policymakers in promoting digital transformation through financial support and help companies understand how to use financial support to improve competitiveness.

This study explores the role of financial support in the digital transformation of Chinese A-share-listed companies from 2001 to 2020. By utilizing the moderating effect model and threshold regression model, this study finds the following results: (1) Digital transformation positively impacts innovation, and the support of banking and capital markets further strengthens this impact. (2) With the development of banking and capital markets, the impact of digital transformation on innovation changes from negative to positive, which is also reflected in the subsamples of Eastern companies, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), and non-SMEs. (3) The study reveals that only the capital market in the non-Eastern region has no threshold, and capital market support is effective only for non-SMEs when it reaches a higher level. These findings have important implications for policymakers in promoting digital transformation through financial support and help companies understand how to use financial support to improve competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of energy use not only sheds light on lightening the increasing pressures from energy systems but also improves the flexibility and reliability of power systems. As the highest carbon emission country in the world, detailed evaluation of China's carbon emission trading scheme (ETS) on the energy use is sensitive to energy sectors and highlights the importance of energy utilization in current society. Yet, because of the presence of a possible discontinuity caused by policy implementation, this study uses synthetic control method (SCM) to confirm whether there is a cutoff for energy use after the ETS implementation. Furthermore, threshold regression model is integrated to estimate the causal relationship when there is a discontinuity. SCM is used to verify which has caused the discontinuity for threshold regression model, and threshold regression model is used to quantify and estimate the causal relationship which SCM cannot evaluate. Through the data analysis, it is found that ETS makes effect on energy use deduction in most of pilot ETS regions while the effect is affected by economic development, population, industry, and research. Some suggestions on how to reduce energy use conclude this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The information technology revolution carries a digital dividend and also breeds the mechanism of inequality, and the high-quality development of information technology is of great significance in improving the state of economic inequality. The article utilizes the relative deprivation index and Gini coefficient to quantify the level of economic inequality status and then establishes an evaluation index system combined with the entropy weight TOPSIS method to calculate the level of information technology development. Subsequently, the panel data of 31 provinces and cities in China from 2017 to 2022 are taken as the research object, and the corresponding variables are selected to construct the double-difference model and the threshold regression model. The direct and nonlinear effects of IT application on economic inequality improvement are analyzed through regression. The effect of the level of IT development on the relative deprivation index and Gini coefficient is significantly negative at the 1% level, with regression coefficients of -0.094 and -0.081, respectively, and the relative deprivation index and Gini coefficient have decreased by 187.88% and 117.65%, respectively, over the 13 years after the implementation of IT reform policies. The level of information technology development has two threshold values of 5.412 and 5.634 for the state of economic inequality, and either below the first threshold or above the second threshold significantly reduces the income gap arising from economic inequality. Information technology development can effectively alleviate the state of economic inequality, reduce the economic income gap, and lay the foundation for achieving common prosperity.

Integrating the traditional dance system into the university dance performance course helps optimize the dance performance mode of college students, better cultivate students’ dance disciplinary literacy, and realize the innovative development of the traditional dance system. This paper firstly integrates the traditional dance system into the design framework of teaching resources of university dance performance courses. It constructs a unit-type dance performance teaching mode by combining the characteristics of the traditional dance system. Secondly, taking University Z of City B as the research object, the teaching comparison method is used to verify its teaching effect, the threshold regression model is introduced to explore the influencing factors of the dance performance course, and the parameters of the model are estimated by the least squares method. Finally, the data were used to quantitatively compare the students’ pre- and post-test scores of the modular dance performance teaching, and the threshold regression model of the dance performance course was subjected to benchmark regression and robustness test. The results showed that the experimental group’s mean value of mastery of traditional dance movements reached 87.53±7.05 points, a 31.98% improvement over the control group’s performance. The existence of single and double thresholds of policy prerequisites and subject selectivity on the level of university dance performance course design can realize the integration of traditional dance system and university dance performance course design, and provide a new way to innovate dance movements.

In the context of moral character formation within higher education, this research critically examines standardized education systems’ influence on student management quality across universities and colleges in China. Analyzing annual reports from institutions in 31 provinces using sophisticated threshold regression models, the study quantitatively demonstrates the positive impact of education system standardization on management quality, with a 1% standardization increase resulting in a 0.527% enhancement in management effectiveness. The investigation further uncovers the threshold effects of humanization, professionalism, and system participation on student management, highlighting the importance of a humanized education approach. Notably, the research elucidates the mediating impact of teaching quality on this relationship, advocating for reinforcing educational system standardization and teaching quality as essential strategies for improving student management and academic quality.

Digital media animation can better promote folk culture inheritance and innovation, and at the same time, folk culture also provides rich inspiration materials and cultural elements for the creation of digital media animation. In this paper, the mathematical structure of the threshold regression model is first sorted out, and the parameters of the model are estimated by using the search method and the smooth least squares method. Secondly, it analyzes the promotion effect of digital media animation on the dissemination of folk culture, takes the 2D animated short film “Red Bank” as a research example, and designs a questionnaire to obtain the research data. Finally, the benchmark regression model and threshold regression model were established with folk culture dissemination as the dependent variable, and benchmark regression, robustness test, and threshold effect verification were conducted. The results show that the audiovisual language, creation method, and display medium of digital media animation are significantly correlated with folk culture dissemination at 1% level, and its R2 fit value reaches 0.7439. The level of development of digital media technology has an obvious double-threshold effect on the dissemination of folk culture, and its double-threshold value is 1.028 and 2.251 respectively. Digital media animation can enhance the dissemination medium of folk culture, expand the dissemination medium, and improve the quality of folk culture. Communication media and enhance the influence of folk culture.

The policy objectives of affordable housing programs in China are two-fold: on the one hand, they are designed to assist low- and moderate-income families and reduce inequality; on the other hand, they are intended to lower commodity housing prices. However, the effects of affordable housing land on housing prices, particularly the between-city variation and the mechanisms behind the market effects, have not been sufficiently examined, making it difficult to evaluate the housing policy and improve it accordingly. In this study, we address these gaps by using a prefecture-level panel dataset covering 2009–2020, obtained from national land and housing transaction information platforms. We use a threshold model to investigate the threshold effect of population size and a mediating model to uncover the channels through which the supply of affordable housing land affects housing prices. The results confirm that the affordable housing land supply can have a beneficial influence in terms of slowing down the increase in housing prices. The population size plays a significant role in explaining the between-city market effect variations. In cities with a population greater than 10.78 million, increasing the supply of affordable housing land would cause the housing prices to increase. Meanwhile, in cities with smaller populations, increasing the supply of affordable housing land could lower the housing prices. The underlying mechanisms of the market effects vary across cities with different population sizes. Although affordable housing land crowds out commodity housing land in all cities, housing demand diversion only exists in cities with a smaller population. At present, China is experimenting with city-specific housing policies; our findings imply that decision makers should explore additional policy options, besides building on incremental construction land, in order to make housing more affordable in supercities in China.

The digital transformation in developing countries is crucial in determining whether environmental regulations can better facilitate green technological innovation. This paper constructs a theoretical model to deduce the relationships among digital transformation, environmental regulations, and green technological innovation. Empirical research is conducted using a two-way fixed-effects model and a threshold regression approach, based on provincial panel data from China spanning the years 2013 to 2020. The results indicate that environmental regulation inhibits green technological innovation. However, digital transformation, by reducing cost pathways, can promote the efficiency of green technological innovation under environmental regulation. This moderating effect exhibits a nonlinear threshold characteristic. Regarding dimensions of digital transformation, the level of digital investment shows no threshold, while both the level of digital application and the scale of digital integration exhibit threshold effects. Presently, in China, digital transformation effectively incentivizes green technological innovation under environmental regulation. Therefore, increasing digital investment, advancing digital applications, and fostering digital integration are inevitable choices to drive green technological innovation under the pressure of environmental regulation.

While numerous studies have demonstrated the effects of density and diversity on metro ridership, few studies have explored the long-term mechanisms of these effects. Employing smartcard data and multisource big data from Wuhan between 2015 and 2019, this study applied the panel threshold model to explore the long-term threshold effects of station area density and diversity on metro station-to-station ridership. The results indicated that only when development intensity and land use mix exceeded the threshold values would there be significant positive impacts on ridership at the origins and destinations, and the ridership benefits were significantly reduced when the origin intensity exceeded 1.622 or when the mix exceeded 0.635. Additionally, population density, POI mixture, bus stops and parking lots, station, and network attributes had long-term significant impacts on metro ridership. These findings can contribute to implementing differentiated land development patterns and promoting the sustainable development of TOD strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]