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Forests are both an irreplaceable natural resource and a vital economic asset for all humankind. Based on the data of counties in mainland China from 2007 to 2020, the article explores the direct impact and spatial spillover effects of the policy implementation on the economic growth of counties with the help of the forest city pilot policy and the policy evaluation model. The results reveal that policy implementation can have a positive economic growth effect on the pilot counties, which, in turn, can significantly increase the size of the county's GDP, the level of GDP per capita, and the total amount of nighttime lighting brightness. The implementation of forest city construction can bring about 2.74% of total GDP size, about 2.63% of per capita GDP development level, and about 7.25% of nighttime light brightness to the county on average. Cost–benefit analysis also indicates that forest city construction can bring about a comprehensive economic benefit of approximately CNY 686.453 million (approximately USD 96.82 million) to the counties. The rapid improvement in labor productivity, significant influx of high-end factors, and continuous expansion of market potential are important mechanisms through which policy implementation promotes economic growth in pilot counties. While promoting economic growth in the pilot counties, forest city construction can also have positive spatial spillover effects on neighboring areas in the pilot counties. Furthermore, when the deficits in atmospheric vapor pressure and annual evapotranspiration are used as instrumental variables for forest city construction, the empirical estimates are not significantly altered. In the process of building forest cities, county governments should be wary of issues such as the high cost of forest maintenance. This study provides a Chinese model and policy reference for other countries and regions in the world to deal with the relationship between forest city construction and county economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for electricity, driven by factors such as the shift to carbon neutrality and economic growth, is a challenge shared by South Korea and Japan. South Korea, a peninsula nation, and Japan, an island country, which are both heavily dependent on foreign energy sources and have manufacturing-based industrial structures, are actively working to secure stable power supplies for their economic development. This article carries out a quantitative analysis of the roles of the South Korean and Japanese electric power sectors (EPSs) in their respective economies, seeking to identify differences and generate actionable insights for decision making and policy formulation. Utilizing the input–output (IO) technique with the latest available data, the analysis includes a demand-side model, a supply-side model, and a price-side model to examine various effects of the EPSs. The key findings reveal differences in the production-inducing, value-added creation, and job-creation effects between the two countries, highlighting operational disparities in their electricity sectors. Additionally, South Korea exhibits higher wage-inducing, supply shortage, and price-side effects than Japan, because of its public enterprise-oriented high-wage structure and a substantial manufacturing sector. These quantitative results provide valuable reference material for future government decisions and policy development in the EPS and emphasize the significant role and impact of the power sector in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming and the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon have significant impacts on human activities, against which it is necessary to develop effective coping strategies. Based on the local climate zone (LCZ) system, this study used the land-cover and surface temperature data on the Chang–Zhu–Tan (CZT) urban agglomeration in China in 2006, 2010, 2016, and 2020 to analyze the impact of climate change on the land surface temperature (LST) under different land-cover types. The results illustrate that the LCZ map generated on the basis of the improved World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT) is more accurate and efficient than the traditional method. The accuracy is increased by more than 15%. From 2006 to 2020, the main built-up types in the CZT urban agglomeration were the sparsely built, the large low-rise, and the compact mid-rise types. The low-plant type represents the most significant proportion of the natural types, followed by the water and the dense-tree types. The built-up types in the CZT urban agglomeration tend to be the high-rise, dense, and industrial types. Urban construction land is taken mainly from the sparsely built type of land. The average LST of the large low-rise and heavy-industry zones is significantly higher than the average LST of the three cities. The average LST values for the water and dense-tree zones are significantly lower than the other average LST values. The LST is stable in each LCZ, showing little correlation with the size of the LCZ area. Compact low-rise land use is ineffective against climate warming and inhibits economic growth. Compact high-rise and open high-rise land can not only effectively deal with climate warming but can also significantly stimulate economic growth. This paper helps us to understand the effect of land cover on climate warming and the economic benefits of LCZs in the CZT urban agglomeration and provides strategies to optimize the use of land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This work assesses and compares the respective economic effects of the same amount of production or investment in the natural gas supply sector in South Korea and Japan. This study examines the role of the natural gas supply sector in the national economy by applying input–output analysis to South Korea and Japan. Specifically, the production-inducing effect, value-added creation effect, wage-inducing effect, employment-inducing effect, supply shortage effect, and price-inducing effect were analyzed using an input–output table of South Korea and Japan. As a result, the production-inducing effect, value-added creation effect, and employment-inducing effect of same investment amount in the natural gas supply sector were greater in Japan than in South Korea. On the other hand, the wage-inducing effect of an investment of USD 1 in the natural gas supply sector was found to be greater in South Korea than in Japan. In addition, the supply shortage effect and price-inducing effect in the natural gas supply sector were greater in South Korea than in Japan. The causes of differences in analysis results for each country and their implications were discussed. The results of this study could be a useful reference for the government to establish policies related to natural gas supply in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed rail (HSR) is an important form of transportation that affects the economic development of the regional spatial structure. However, there is less discussion about the impact of economically underdeveloped regions and the rapid construction of HSR on the region. This study uses a spatial econometric model to explore whether a rapidly formed high-speed rail network with changes in the network structure can bring economic effects based on the spatio-temporal panel data on high-speed rail construction and economic development in western China from 2015 to 2020. First, data of the daily departures between high-speed rail cities were used to analyze the western high-speed rail network's spatial and temporal evolution characteristics. Second, we analyzed the changes in the centrality, external and internal connectivity, and transfer potential of the economic gap of the western HSR network. Finally, we analyzed the different economic effects of the HSR network structure by combining the Cobb–Douglas production function with the spatial econometric model. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The HSR network in western China is dense at the intra-provincial HSR network; then it expands along the cross-provincial region; and is gradually embedded in the national HSR network, forming a figure-8-shaped spatial structure. (2) In the rapid expansion and densification of the HSR network in western China, connectivity takes precedence, and dominance and control are then increased. The external connectivity of the western HSR city network develops first and shows fluctuating growth, while the internal connectivity improves relatively slowly. (3) The connectivity, convenience of transit, transshipment capacity, and internal and external connection structure of the HSR network all contribute to the economic development of western cities. The transfer potential of economic gaps is detrimental to their economic development but has a positive effect on adjacent cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the economic ripple effects caused by the supply-side reforms on China's steel industry. To this end, using the 2012 and the 2017 China Input–Output Tables, this study analyzes the economic ripple effect of the Chinese steel industry caused by its supply-side reform. In this study, the influence coefficients (rear-linked effect) and the sensitivity coefficients (forward-linked effect), conceptualized by Leontief, are used as research tools to analyze the ripple effects of the Chinese steel industry. The analysis results are as follows. First, the fact that 2012 ranked high in professional equipment and meter manufacturing shows that the Chinese government's supply-side reforms are effective and creating the required shift from traditional manufacturing to qualitative growth. Second, in terms of the sensitivity coefficient, in 2012, most of the top industries contributed significantly to the development of the Chinese economy. The originality of this study is as follows. The input production analysis used in this paper is a methodology mainly used in the steel, coal, automobile, and petrochemical industries, which clearly distinguishes the front and rear industries. Additionally, this study is a novel attempt at comparative research on the Chinese steel industry between 2012 and 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This work investigates the economic effects of the same amount of production or investment in the individual heating system and the district heating system in South Korea using an input-out analysis. When South Korea develops a new city, the government has made a preliminary decision on one of two heating systems, an individual heating system (IHS) or a district heating system (DHS). However, it is still unclear which system is desirable in terms of maximizing the national economic effect. Thus, this article aims to derive quantitative information about the economic effects of the same amount of production or investment in the two systems through an input-output (IO) analysis using the recently published 2017 IO table. More specifically, the production-inducing effects, value-added creation effects, and wage-inducing effects are systematically analyzed focusing on the IHS and DHS sectors. The results show that one dollar of production or investment in IHS or DHS causes about 1.073 and 1.388 dollars of production, about 0.228 and 0.658 dollars of value-added, and about 0.051 and 0.108 dollars in wages, respectively, throughout the national economy. Overall, the economic effects of the DHS sector are greater than those of the IHS sector. That is, when the same amount of investment or production is made in the two sectors, DHS produces more economic effects than IHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green credit is an indispensable funding source through which China can achieve its carbon neutrality goal. This paper quantifies the influences of different green credit scales on energy structures, carbon reduction, the industrial economy, and the macroeconomy. It creates a green credit mechanism related to green technology innovation in a Chinese carbon neutrality computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and integrates energy, environmental, economic, and financial (3EF) systems. The green credit scale can influence green technology innovation and hence CO 2 emissions. The results show that (1) green credit can accelerate China's achievement of its carbon neutrality goal, and the larger the green credit scale, the less time it takes to achieve goals; (2) the influence of green credit scales confers marginal decreasing effects with realistic policy considerations; (3) using a cost-benefit perspective, 60% is the most appropriate green credit scale to use to achieve dual carbon goals in China; (4) the different green credit scales have a heterogeneous impact on the industry output, and high-carbon-emission producers from nonenergy industries need to pay attention to their green credit risk. This research provides a scientific reference for the policy design of China's future green financial market development.

This study focuses on the effects of China's carbon peaking policy, investigating how to balance nonfossil energy consumption and coal consumption to achieve China's carbon peaking policy goal. The research applies the recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model to simulate the impact of China's energy planning policies using five scenarios to analyze the carbon emissions and economic effects of China's energy planning policy from the perspectives of energy use, carbon emissions, the macroeconomy, and institutional income. The simulation results indicate that to achieve the goal of carbon peaking by 2030, the annual installed capacity of nonfossil energy must reach 112.29 gigawatts, and average annual coal consumption in the China 15th Five-Year Plan and 16th Five-Year Plan should be reduced by 20 million and 40 million tons, respectively, which will result in the proportion of nonfossil energy in primary energy consumption reaching about 25%. Limiting coal consumption will slow economic growth, whereas increasing the installed capacity of nonfossil energy will stimulate economic growth. The combined policies will have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and achieving the carbon peaking goal and will also offset the adverse effects of such policies on the macroeconomy.

This article analyzes the mechanism of formation of the main components of harmful emissions characteristic of combustion chambers operating on conventional hydrocarbon fuels. The method of combustion of a preliminarily prepared depleted air–fuel mixture was chosen as the object of the study. This method of suppressing harmful emissions was implemented in the design of a low-toxic combustion chamber developed as applied to the GT-009 M type unit with impact cooling of the burner pipe and provides for stabilization of the main kinetic flame by means of a diffusion-kinetic and a standby burner device. The results of the calculations performed with regard to the operating conditions of the low-toxic combustion chamber at the nominal load of GT-009 M allow us to conclude that the practical use of combustion of a depleted, preprepared, fuel–air mixture in combination with diffusion-kinetic stabilization of combustion is promising. The topic of this article is related to the problem of ecological improvement of gas turbine unit combustion chambers, which determines its utmost importance and relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difficult terrain is characterized by deteriorated conditions for plant adaptation, e.g., owing to poor substrate, substantial land slope, or intensive insolation. In terms of plant adaptation, difficult terrain includes newly created ski slopes, any kind of embankment, scarps, levees, and etc. Application of grasses is an effective and economic method of stabilization of the ground. However, sowing of grass-legume mixtures to sod these areas does not typically produce adequate effects. Application of a new generation of protective fabrics with the addition of bird feathers may be a remedy to these problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of biodegradable fabrics for covering difficult areas to improve the habitat conditions for plants. To evaluate this issue, an area characterized by difficult conditions for plant development was selected. Five types of protective fabrics were applied. The main factor influencing the efficiency of the sodding of difficult terrain was the application of fabrics that were capable of absorbing water, which were then given to plants over a longer period of time. Vegetation grew easiest through the geotextile made of sheep wool with the addition of bird feathers. Fabrics manufactured from problematic waste materials contribute to an ecological effect as well as an economic effect resulting from lower costs of waste management as well as the income from selling the innovative product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes by analyzing the economic effects of China's distribution industry based on China's 2012 and 2017 input-output data. It analyzes changes in the forward and backward linkage effect over a five-year period in accordance with the Chinese government's distribution industry policy. The coefficients of the effects of the Chinese distribution industry, using Input-Output Tables and a comparative analysis of the sensitivity of dispersion, were determined. In terms of the coefficient of influence, most of the sectors that ranked high in 2012 are related to manufacturing, except for lodging and catering. The sensitivity and influence coefficients indicate that the top-ranked sectors in 2012 were more affected by the raw materials and energy essential for manufacturing development than by the services sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry (MI) has played a role in proving a stable supply of minerals for industrial production and human survival. The South Korean government is implementing various policies to promote the MI and needs quantitative information on the economic role and effects of the MI. Thus, this article aims to derive the information through an input-output (IO) analysis using the recently published 2015 IO table, subdividing the MI into four sectors, namely coal, crude petroleum and natural gas, metal ores, and non-metallic mineral mining, and treating the MI as exogenous rather than endogenous. To this end, three models are employed. First, the production-inducing effects, value-added creation effects, and wage-inducing effects of 1 dollar of production in the MI sector are analyzed using a demand-driven model. One dollar of production or investment in the sector causes 1.81 of production, 0.85 dollar of value-added, and 0.33 dollar of wage, respectively. Second, by applying a supply-driven model, it is found that one dollar of supply shortage in the MI causes 2.24 dollars of production failure throughout the national economy. Third, by utilizing a price-side model, it is discovered that a 10% increase in the price of output of the MI raises the overall price level by 0.025%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this observational cross-sectional study was to gain information on the awareness; protective measures and economic effects of dentists in Switzerland during the global COVID-19 pandemic. All dentist were members of the Swiss Dental Association SSO from all over Switzerland-including all Swiss cantons and Liechtenstein-and received a previously calibrated questionnaire as an ad hoc online version. The questionnaire was divided into four parts: personal data; precautionary measures; awareness; perception. In total, 1324 questionnaires were analyzed; the response rate was 30.59% ( n total = 4328). Participants stated in less than 2% common symptoms/signs of COVID-19; of which only fatigue was statistically significant ( p < 0.01). A small number of dentists reported a positive test (0.91%; n = 12) or having one or more symptoms (2.65%; n = 35) of COVID-19 during the pandemic; whereas only 6.71% ( n = 87) of the participants reported having treated SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. High prevalence areas were only medium-large and large Swiss cantons ( p < 0.01). Face filter (FFP2/FFP3) masks were used by about half of the dentists, while disposable visor was rarely used. The majority of dentists had to reduce the dental practice activity to a minimum of 0-10% ( n = 923; 69.98%) due to the lockdown. This economic impact forced 1.4% ( n = 18) to close their practice permanently or by the end of 2020 due to the economic situation. These results can be helpful to better prepare dental practices for future outbreaks of infection (e.g., prophylactic storage of additional protective measures), define the best strategy and organize the dental workforce. Political decision-makers should consider drastic economic effects when deciding on drastic measures such as "lockdown", which can lead to practice closures and unemployment of dental staff after only a few weeks. This should be taken into account, especially with regard to possible financial assistance to severely impaired dental practices to maintain a high level of dental care.

With the increase of car ownership, mobile pollution has become an important source of air pollution, which makes it more difficult for China to control air pollution. In order to control mobile pollution from automobile exhaust, China has taken a series of comprehensive measures. The paper studies the emission reduction effect from the perspective of flow pollution and stock pollution. First of all, the paper uses the actual emission data of motor vehicles to study the emission reduction effect by gasoline and diesel vehicles. The results show that: (1) Fuel price, fuel tax (except diesel), and emission and gasoline standards have an emission reduction effect on gasoline vehicle exhaust control, while the restriction has no effect. (2) In gasoline cars, the emission reduction effect in the Middle East is more significant than in the West, and the effect in the West is better than that in the Middle East. (3) As for diesel vehicles, the effect of policy in the West is superior to the East. Further, the east is better than in the middle. Secondly, based on the actual emission data of Chinese motor vehicles, the paper simulates the change value of stock pollution from automobile exhaust under different policies, and concludes that the economic effect of policy depends on the ecological absorption rate and discount rate. When the net discount value NPV is positive, the government should do its best to interfere with the emission of automobile exhaust. When the net discount value NPV is negative, the government doesn't have to interfere with the emission of automobile exhaust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]