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This study provides an in-depth analysis of the factors that impede the economic sustainability of former female migrant workers in Sumbawa Regency. The research seeks to identify both cultural and structural barriers that hinder their economic stability, while proposing alternative solutions to enhance their economic resilience in line with the development goals of Sumbawa Regency. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the study identifies two primary categories of obstacles: cultural and structural. Cultural barriers include personal financial mismanagement, high familial dependency, and widespread fatalistic attitudes among former migrant workers. Structural barriers are primarily linked to exploitative practices by recruitment agents, such as unclear contracts, irresponsible conduct, agent-related debts, withheld wages, and a lack of accountability. These challenges are further exacerbated by limited government support, inadequate banking services, and restricted access to financial institutions. As potential solutions, the study proposes skills-based economic empowerment, improved access to capital, the development of social networks and community support, enhanced financial literacy and planning, and strengthened policy frameworks and legal protections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing industry is one of the major threats to global environment and resource depletion. Particularly in China, it is regarded as a major challenge due to massive population growth. The most common barriers involve; economic barriers and environmental barriers. Therefore, to promote sustainable housing development, the management of these barriers is most crucial. This study is an attempt to overcome these barriers with the help of financial institutions in the context of China. The sample of the study are construction sector employees which are selected through simple random sampling method. Partial Least Square (PLS) is employed as statistical tool to analyze the primary data. Results revealed the positive role of financial institutions to overcome the challenges related to the economic barriers and environmental barriers. Financing from banks for the sustainable housing schemes can reduce the economic barriers and help to fulfil the sustainable housing criteria. Similarly, the environment requirements can also be achieved through environmental policy developed by the banks in China. This study recommended the Chinese government to promote sustainable hosing development through the promotion of bank financing and implementation of banks environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this article is the issue of short food supply chains. The research problem formulated in the paper aims to address whether short food supply chains ensure the sustainable development of rural areas and whether they are being displaced by longer chains for narrowly defined economic reasons. The research was conducted based on a critical analysis of literature on short food supply chains and statistical data. The findings of the research indicate that short food supply chains are a necessary condition for the sustainable development of rural areas. Unfortunately, there is a conflict between the pursuit of narrowly defined economic efficiency of farms and the preservation of the social potential of rural areas, which stems from the fact that the principle of price competition does not favor the development of local supply markets, especially when it comes to high-quality food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aims to identify barriers to sustainable supply chain management implementations in the Egyptian fashion industry. Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review over a period of 17 years was conducted to identify the barriers to the implementation of a sustainable supply chain in Egypt, which included 29 publications published in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and book chapters. Findings: The economic, social, and environmental barriers to sustainable supply chain management were highlighted and summarized from previous studies indicating whether these barriers are inside or outside each organization. However, it was discovered that most of the production is carried out by the developing countries where limited research on sustainable supply chain barriers and consequently in the fashion industry in particular. This gap is considered the main research findings, where authors worked on highlighting and classifying sustainable supply chain barriers in the fashion industry in developing countries. Research Implications/Limitations: Due to the limited studies on both topics, barriers to sustainable fashion supply chain and sustainability barriers in Egypt as a developing country, this study is a systematic review of the literature; nevertheless, an empirical study may be undertaken in the future. The systematic review covers the years 2005 to 2022, and identifies the barriers to implementing sustainable supply chain management in the Egyptian fashion industry. Practical Implications/Limitations: This study provides academics with a consistent representation of sustainability barriers in the Egyptian fashion sector to motivate additional academic research and assistance for managers to create company sustainability competency by highlighting economic, social, and environmental challenges to implementing sustainable supply chain. Originality: This research classifies the sustainable supply chain barriers into internal and external barriers and moreover as economic, social, and environmental at the same time. It is one of the few studies that explore sustainable fashion supply chain management in developing countries, particularly Egypt. Also, this is the first research about Egypt that classifies sustainability barriers into economic, social, and environmental barriers, and discusses the Egyptian sustainable supply chain barriers for implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If solar panels and wind turbines can generate direct current (dc) voltage, and all electrical and electronic loads can operate directly off dc voltage, why is the distribution network within the built environment an alternating current (ac) system? In a world where carbon footprint is in focus, why are systems dc–ac–dc and not dc–dc–dc? Historically, voltage drop and therefore the need for larger gauge wiring were seen as technical and economic barriers to extra-low dc voltage systems. However, prices and power needs have lowered, it is now technically and economically feasible to use dc systems for the built environment. Such systems can provide energy independence and energy security. Examples of niche usage of solar photovoltaics that are providing electricity in the developing world are used to show that distributed dc voltage can have direct positive impacts on many of the UNs, sustainability development goals. Given the advantages of distributed dc electricity systems over centralised ac systems, it is concluded that policy makers and NGOs have to take on board dc as a sustainable solution to help the billions of people that either are not connected to electricity or use fossil fuels that are adversely effecting there health.

If solar panels and wind turbines can generate direct current (dc) voltage, and all electrical and electronic loads can operate directly off dc voltage, why is the distribution network within the built environment an alternating current (ac) system? In a world where carbon footprint is in focus, why are systems dc–ac–dc and not dc–dc–dc? Historically, voltage drop and therefore the need for larger gauge wiring were seen as technical and economic barriers to extra-low dc voltage systems. However, prices and power needs have lowered, it is now technically and economically feasible to use dc systems for the built environment. Such systems can provide energy independence and energy security. Examples of niche usage of solar photovoltaics that are providing electricity in the developing world are used to show that distributed dc voltage can have direct positive impacts on many of the UNs, sustainability development goals. Given the advantages of distributed dc electricity systems over centralised ac systems, it is concluded that policy makers and NGOs have to take on board dc as a sustainable solution to help the billions of people that either are not connected to electricity or use fossil fuels that are adversely effecting there health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the causal relationships among 'institutional', 'economic', 'social' and 'environmental' sustainability barriers in addition to assessing their effects on sustainable housing. A questionnaire survey was conducted with professionals in the regulated sector of the Ghanaian housing market. Data collected were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results revealed the following significant paths among the barriers: 'institutional barriers' to 'economic barriers' path is supported at a significance level of p <.05 at a t-value of 2.125; 'institutional barriers' to 'social barriers' path is also supported at a significance level of p <.05 at a t-value of 2.132 and likewise 'institutional barriers' to 'environmental barriers' path of p <.01 at a t-value of 3.740. Between the barriers and sustainable housing, both 'institutional barriers' and 'environmental barriers' have significant impacts on sustainable housing at t-values of 3.673 and 1.790 supported at p <.01 and p <.10, respectively. Three underlying barriers, viz: 'bureaucratic delays', 'policy instability' and 'weak enforcement of development control on land' accounted for all the significant paths of the 'institutional barriers'. Among them 'policy instability' has the highest loading, suggesting that it is the biggest barrier to sustainable housing. Essentially, the findings unraveled the causal-effect relationships among the four categories of barriers and a predictive model between the barriers and sustainable housing. Accordingly, the 'institutional barriers' are causal barriers that have multiplier effects on 'economic', 'social' and 'environmental' barriers. The findings of this study contribute to the global body of knowlege on housing by investigating the interactive effects of institutional, economic, social and environmental sustainability barriers on sustainable housing. This equips policymakers and practitioners with deeper knowledge, enabling effective decisions, policies and strategies to overcome the barriers and promote sustainable housing development and supply. • This paper employs partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). • Four barrier categories were established, viz: 'economic', 'social', 'environmental' and 'institutional' sustainability barriers. • Findings of the study revealed that institutional barriers have significant impacts on the other barrier categories. • Both the institutional barriers and environmental barriers have significant impacts on sustainable housing. • Among underlying institutional barriers, 'policy instability' has the highest loading; thus, it is the biggest barrier to sustainable housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]