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1 – 10 of 350
Article
Publication date: 21 December 2021

Ting Shang, Xin Hu, Kunhui Ye and Vivian W. Y. Tam

This study aims to map out contractors' thoughts on construction-related environmental recovery as an excuse for deliberately carrying on unsustainable construction.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to map out contractors' thoughts on construction-related environmental recovery as an excuse for deliberately carrying on unsustainable construction.

Design/methodology/approach

A typical highway construction project in China was investigated. Textual materials were collected through semistructured interviews. Content analysis was conducted to derive qualitative data from the textual materials.

Findings

The research findings reveal a trend of environmental recovery associated with construction activities. It is found that contractors utilize this trend to maintain unsustainable construction. Furthermore, the effects of environmental recovery equip local governments with a tolerance for environmental degradation, and the environmental tolerance allows contractors to continue unsustainable construction without being discovered.

Originality/value

This paper presents an environmental recovery-based perspective on unsustainable construction and sheds some light on the promotion of sustainable construction.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 September 2013

Brian J. Hurn

This article aims to emphasise the increasing need for managers operating in international business to respond effectively to the challenges of globalisation and to provide

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Abstract

Purpose

This article aims to emphasise the increasing need for managers operating in international business to respond effectively to the challenges of globalisation and to provide suggested responses and training of global international managers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper summarises the main driving forces behind globalisation and, in particular, the increasing influence of Brazil, Russia, China and India (the BRICs). It analyses the main challenges and associated political and economic factors.

Findings

Main challenges include strategic, geopolitical issues, working effectively in multinational teams, ethical and environmental considerations, the vulnerability of global supply chains and the ever-present requirement for wider understanding of the cultural background. Training required includes language skills, special competencies and the development of global leadership skills.

Research limitations/implications

The paper was written against a background of swiftly changing circumstances and inherent problems in interpretation of governments' statistics.

Practical implications

Practical implications are the difficulty of assessing change in a period of general sluggish growth in a global recession and a basic lack of business confidence.

Social implications

Social implications include the rise in the potential spending power of developing countries, especially the BRICs, who now have a sizeable affluent middle class. This is against a background of latent social unrest as the gap between the rich and poor is tending to increase.

Originality/value

This paper is an attempt to summarise the key challenges and the current economic factors which can threaten the successful operation of international management in the globalised economy.

Details

Industrial and Commercial Training, vol. 45 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0019-7858

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 20 September 2014

Li-Hui Chang, Chih-Hsin Tsai and Shih-Shuo Yeh

Green or ecological consumers can gradually become a prominent market segment. The purpose of this study is to investigate tourists’ behavior intentions for staying overnight at…

Abstract

Green or ecological consumers can gradually become a prominent market segment. The purpose of this study is to investigate tourists’ behavior intentions for staying overnight at green hotels by integrating environmental education (EE) from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) perspective. Data of 350 usable questionnaires for this research were collected from a quasi-random selection of people at the checkout counter of three of the 19 winners of the 2008 green hotel competition in Taiwan. This result indicates that a green hotel that provides green service can be supported by supporting EE. The findings and applications of this study are useful for both academia and practitioners.

Details

Advances in Hospitality and Leisure
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78441-174-9

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 December 2022

Abdallah Abdul-Mumuni, Barbara Deladem Mensah and Richard Amankwa Fosu

While there are enormous studies on the determinants of environmental degradation, empirical studies on the effect of renewable energy consumption and economic growth on the…

Abstract

Purpose

While there are enormous studies on the determinants of environmental degradation, empirical studies on the effect of renewable energy consumption and economic growth on the environment remain limited. The purpose of this paper is to examine the asymmetric effect of renewable energy consumption and economic growth on environmental degradation in 31 selected sub-Saharan African countries spanning from 1990 to 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine possible asymmetric effects of the exogenous variables on environmental degradation, we used the panel nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach and secondary data was sourced from the World Bank (2021).

Findings

The cointegration test results suggest that there is a long-run cointegration among the variables whereas our main findings indicate that environmental degradation responds asymmetrically to changes in renewable energy consumption and economic growth. The results further reveal that both positive and negative shocks in renewable energy consumption reduce environmental degradation. On the other hand, positive and negative shocks in economic growth increase environmental degradation in the long run.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of this study include the need for policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa to encourage the utilization of renewable energy as it reduces environmental degradation. Also, governments in the subregion should gradually replace the usage of fossil fuels by adapting renewable energy sources so as to achieve higher economic growth.

Originality/value

The positive and negative shocks of renewable energy consumption and economic growth on environmental degradation are examined to ascertain their asymmetric relationships.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 17 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 23 November 2021

Ismail Aliyu Danmaraya, Aminu Hassan Jakada, Suraya Mahmood, Bello Alhaji Ibrahim and Ahmad Umar Ali

The purpose of this paper is to look at the asymmetric effect of oil production on environmental degradation in OPEC member countries from 1970–2019.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at the asymmetric effect of oil production on environmental degradation in OPEC member countries from 1970–2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build a nonlinear panel ARDL–PMG model using the Shin et al. (2014) nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach in panel form to assess both the short- and long-run impact of positive and negative oil production movements on CO2 emissions.

Findings

The result demonstrates that the variables are cointegrated. According to the linear long run coefficients, oil production, FDI inflows and economic growth both have a positive and significant relationship with CO2 emissions, implying that they deteriorate environmental quality in OPEC countries, while renewable energy has a negative relationship with CO2, implying that increasing renewable energy improves environmental quality. The asymmetric findings prove that positive and negative shocks of oil production exert a positive effect on carbon emissions in short run and long run.

Research limitations/implications

To begin with, the empirical assessments do not include all OPEC member nations; researchers are advised to resolve this constraint by looking at the economies of other OPEC members. Albeit the lack of data for other energy sources may serve as another constraint of this research, future research is expected to broaden the current framework via other energy sources such as nuclear, electricity, biomass, solar as well as wind.

Originality/value

The research adds to the body of knowledge as many of the prevailing studies in the literature failed to look at the asymmetric effect of oil production on the quality of environment. This is another gap in the literature that the current study is set out to fill. This study adds oil production as an explanatory variable and helps to extend the existing literature for OPEC countries, which could propose a solution to deal with ensuing environmental issues.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 16 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2018

Udo Pesch

The purpose of this paper is to introduce three storylines that address the relation between economic growth, technical innovation and environmental impact. The paper assesses if…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce three storylines that address the relation between economic growth, technical innovation and environmental impact. The paper assesses if and how these storylines as guiding visions increase our range of future orientations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first explains its general outline and then explores different strands of literature to arrive at its analytical conclusions.

Findings

Pursuing the three storylines in a paradigmatic articulation creates paradoxes. The growth paradigm focuses on economic growth as its main goal. To overcome environmental degradation, products have to be substituted by environmentally friendly alternatives, but the continuous substitution of finite resources seems unlikely possible. The storyline of innovation sees technological development as a driver of economic progress, and holds that innovations allow the decoupling of economic growth from environmental impact, a claim that is compromised by the occurrence of rebound effects. The degrowth storyline holds that economic growth has to be stopped altogether, but is unclear how this can be done.

Originality/value

By articulating paradigmatic perspectives as storylines, a new understanding on how these perspectives can be figured as a constructive repertoire of guiding visions and not as mere theory-based descriptions.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 38 no. 11/12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 February 2024

Nizam Ud Din, Shama Nazneen and Barkat Jamil

In line with the stimulus overload theory, this study seeks a comprehensive understanding of tourism crowding by examining residents’ perceived tourism crowding and their…

Abstract

Purpose

In line with the stimulus overload theory, this study seeks a comprehensive understanding of tourism crowding by examining residents’ perceived tourism crowding and their corresponding avoidance and approach reactions through sustainable tourism. In addition, the study aims to investigate whether residents’ proenvironmental behavior moderates’ tourism’s negative impacts on the local ecosystem, delving into its potential mitigating role.

Design/methodology/approach

Using purposive sampling, the authors engaged residents associated with government and nongovernment organizations, universities, colleges and schools, as well as individuals from the business sector encompassing hotels, restaurants and cafeterias, markets and dedicated social activists actively involved in community affairs.

Findings

The analysis, conducted on 920 questionnaires using structural equation modeling, demonstrates that tourism crowding exhibits a negative correlation with sustainable tourism and approach reactions but a positive correlation with avoidance reactions. Furthermore, the moderation analysis suggests that as residents’ proenvironmental behavior improves, the detrimental effect of tourism crowding on sustainable tourism diminishes.

Practical implications

The study presents numerous implications for policymakers and the tourism industry, emphasizing the need to comprehend residents’ perceptions of tourism crowding and sustainable tourism. It underscores the importance of engaging residents in the tourism process to achieve sustainability goals.

Originality/value

The novel theoretical contribution lies in applying the stimulus overload theory to examine tourism crowding and sustainable tourism, specifically from the residents’ perspectives.

目的

本研究根据刺激超负荷理论, 通过考察旅游地居民在整个可持续旅游过程中对旅游拥挤的感知以及他们的相应回避和接近反应, 寻求对旅游拥挤的全面了解。此外, 本研究旨在调查旅游地居民的环保行为是否可以缓和旅游对当地生态系统造成的负面影响, 并深入探讨潜在缓解作用。

方法

我们采用目的性抽样方法, 邀请了与政府和非政府组织、大学、学院和学校有关联的旅游地居民, 来自商业领域(包括HORECA“酒店、餐馆和自助餐厅”和市场)的个人, 以及积极参与社区事务的专职社会活动家。

结果

本研究采用结构方程模型(SEM)对920份调查问卷进行分析, 结果表明旅游拥挤与可持续旅游和接近反应呈负相关, 而与回避反应呈正相关。此外, 缓和分析表明, 随着旅游地居民环保行为的改善, 旅游拥挤对可持续旅游的不利影响呈现减弱。

实践启示

本研究为决策者和旅游业提供了许多启示, 强调需要了解旅游地居民对旅游拥挤和可持续旅游的感知, 亦强调了让旅游地居民参与旅游过程的重要性, 以确保实现可持续发展目标。

原创性

本研究贡献了新颖的理论, 应用刺激超负荷理论考察旅游拥挤和可持续旅游, 特别是从旅游地居民角度进行考察。

Propósito

Este estudio busca una comprensión global de la masificación turística mediante el examen de la masificación turística percibida por los residentes y sus correspondientes reacciones de aproximación y evitación a través del turismo sostenible, en el marco de la teoría de la sobrecarga de estímulos. Además, el estudio investiga si el comportamiento proambiental de los residentes modera los impactos negativos del turismo en el ecosistema local, profundizando en su potencial papel mitigador.

Metodología

Utilizando un muestreo intencional o por juicio, se recogieron datos de residentes vinculados a organizaciones gubernamentales y no gubernamentales, universidades, institutos y escuelas, así como a personas del sector empresarial que engloba hoteles, restaurantes y cafeterías, mercados y activistas sociales que participan activamente en asuntos comunitarios.

Hallazgos

El análisis de 920 cuestionarios mediante un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales demuestra que la masificación turística presenta una correlación negativa con el turismo sostenible y las reacciones de aproximación, pero una correlación positiva con las reacciones de evitación. Además, el análisis de moderación sugiere que a medida que mejora el comportamiento proambiental de los residentes, disminuye el impacto negativo de la masificación turística sobre el turismo sostenible.

Implicaciones prácticas

El estudio presenta numerosas implicaciones para los responsables políticos y la industria turística, destacando la necesidad de comprender las percepciones de los residentes sobre la masificación turística y el turismo sostenible. Se subraya la importancia de implicar a los residentes en el proceso turístico para alcanzar objetivos de sostenibilidad.

Originalidad/valor

La novedosa aportación teórica radica en la aplicación de la teoría de la sobrecarga de estímulos para examinar la masificación turística y el turismo sostenible, específicamente desde la perspectiva de los residentes.

Article
Publication date: 3 January 2023

Alina-Petronela Haller, Mirela Ștefănică, Gina Ionela Butnaru and Rodica Cristina Butnaru

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of economic growth, digitalisation, eco-innovation, energy consumption and patents on environmental technologies on the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of economic growth, digitalisation, eco-innovation, energy consumption and patents on environmental technologies on the volume of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) recorded in European countries for a period of nine years (2010–2018).

Design/methodology/approach

Two empirical methods were integrated into the theoretical approach developed based on the analysis of the current scientific framework. Multiple linear regression, an extended version of the OLS model, and a non-causal analysis as a robustness method, Dumitrescu–Hurlin, were used to achieve the proposed research objective.

Findings

Digitalisation described by the number of individual Internet users and patents on environmental technologies determines the amount of GHG in Europe, and economic growth continues to have a significant effect on the amount of emissions, as well as the consumption of renewable energy. European countries are not framed in well-established patterns, but the economic growth, digitalisation, eco-innovation and renewable energy have an impact on the amount of GHG in one way or another. In many European countries, the amount of GHGs is decreasing as a result of economic growth, changes in the energy field and digitalisation. The positive influence of economic growth on climate neutrality depends on its degree of sustainability, while patents have the same conditional effect of their translation into environmentally efficient technologies.

Research limitations/implications

This study has a number of limitations which derive, first of all, from the lack of digitalisation indicators. The missing data restricted the inclusion in the analysis of variables relevant to the description of the European digitalisation process, also obtaining conclusive results on the effects of digitalisation on GHG emissions.

Originality/value

A similar analysis of the relationship among the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth, digitalisation, eco-innovation and renewable energy is less common in the literature. Also, the results can be inspirational in the sphere of macroeconomic policy.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 53 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 August 2017

Nurul Shahnaz Mahdzan, Rozaimah Zainudin, Rosmawani Che Hashim and Noor Adwa Sulaiman

This study aims to investigate the association between Muslim individuals’ portfolio allocation choice and Islamic religiosity (levels and dimensions), controlling for risk…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the association between Muslim individuals’ portfolio allocation choice and Islamic religiosity (levels and dimensions), controlling for risk tolerance and sociodemographic factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses primary data collected via survey questionnaires from a sample of 751 Muslim working individuals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Owing to the ordinal nature of the dependent variable, which reflects the levels of proportions of risky assets in portfolios, the data were analyzed using an ordered probit regression model.

Findings

The findings reveal that Islamic religiosity levels in general were insignificantly related to portfolio allocation, but that two dimensions of religiosity (virtue and obligation) significantly impact the allocations of risky assets in the portfolio. The higher the level of virtue, the lower the propensity to allocate risky assets into the portfolio. On the contrary, the higher the level of obligation, the higher the propensity to allocate risky assets in the portfolio. Meanwhile, individuals with higher risk tolerance, income and education levels show greater propensity to allocate risky assets in the portfolio.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is restricted to Muslims in Kuala Lumpur; hence, the findings are not easily generalized to Muslim investors in general. Findings may differ between Muslims across the world, so future research needs to expand from a country specific to an international analysis. In addition, future studies could include other determinants of portfolio allocation, such as financial literacy.

Practical implications

The findings of this study may assist financial planners and policymakers to better understand the drivers of portfolio allocation among their Muslim clients.

Originality/value

While other studies have tended to focus on the impact of religiosity on the holdings of specific financial assets, such as Islamic bank accounts or Takaful, the present study explores the effect of Islamic religiosity dimensions on the allocations of risky assets in the portfolio. The study also develops an ordinal measure of portfolio allocation and makes a methodological contribution by using an ordered probit regression analysis.

Details

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, vol. 10 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1753-8394

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 October 2008

Valérie Fournier

Whilst there is a growing recognition of environmental degradation, the policies of sustainable development or ecological modernisation offered by national governments and…

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Abstract

Purpose

Whilst there is a growing recognition of environmental degradation, the policies of sustainable development or ecological modernisation offered by national governments and international institutions seem to do little more than “sustain the unsustainable”. By promising to reconcile growth with the environment, they fail to question the economic principle of endless growth that has caused environmental destruction in the first place. In this context, alternatives based on critiques of growth may offer more promising grounds. The aim of this paper is to explore how the degrowth movement that emerged in France over the last decade resonates with, and can contribute to, green politics.

Design/methodology/approach

After locating the movement within environmental politics and providing a brief account of its development, the paper focuses on its core theme – escaping from the economy.

Findings

Here it is argued that the movement's main emphasis is not merely on calling for less growth, consumption or production, but more fundamentally, in inviting one to shift and re‐politicise the terms in which economic relations and identities are considered. This politicisation of the economy is discussed in terms of the movement's foregrounding of democracy and citizenship, and it is argued that the articulation of these two concepts may offer interesting points of departure for conceptualising and practising alternatives to consumer capitalism.

Originality/value

The final part of the paper explores how the degrowth movement's stance on democracy and citizenship could help address two problematic issues within environmental politics: that of inclusion, and motivation

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 28 no. 11/12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

1 – 10 of 350