Journal Description
World
World
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on past, present, and future links between economic, political, social, and/or environmental issues, published quarterly online by MDPI. World serves as a scholarly forum and source of information on local, regional, national, and international trends, challenges, and opportunities relating to sustainability, adaptation, and the 4th Industrial Revolution.
- Open Access—free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within ESCI (Web of Science), FSTA, AGRIS, RePEc, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 22.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the first half of 2024).
- Recognition of Reviewers: APC discount vouchers, optional signed peer review, and reviewer names published annually in the journal.
- World is a companion journal of Sustainability.
Impact Factor:
2.0 (2023);
5-Year Impact Factor:
1.9 (2023)
Latest Articles
Innovation Management: A Bibliometric Analysis of 50 Years of Research Using VOSviewer® and Scopus
World 2024, 5(4), 901-928; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040046 (registering DOI) - 11 Oct 2024
Abstract
Using the bibliometric software VOSviewer® version 1.6.20 and Scopus as a bibliographic database, this paper aims to investigate the research streams in terms of the co-occurrence network of authors, terms extracted from the title field, countries, keywords, and organizations researching on IM
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Using the bibliometric software VOSviewer® version 1.6.20 and Scopus as a bibliographic database, this paper aims to investigate the research streams in terms of the co-occurrence network of authors, terms extracted from the title field, countries, keywords, and organizations researching on IM from publications between 1974 and 2024. Retrieved from Scopus and using science mapping bibliometric techniques with VOSviewer®, 4756 documents published on IM from 1974 to 2024 were analyzed, divided in three phases (1974–1995, 1996–2019, and 2020–2024), and limited to BMA (Business, Management, and Accounting), EEF (Economics, Econometrics, and Finance), and SOC (Social Sciences). The main findings are as follows: (a) there is a tendency for a minimal relationship between authors from different organizations and countries to collaborate in research on IM; (b) almost half (45.12%) of the publications on IM were published by authors from the European Union, which rises to 55.24% in Europe if the United Kingdom is included. These results are far ahead of those of the United States (13.4%), China (7.6%), the Russian Federation (3.6%), and Japan (2.3%). (c) While the first publications on IM deal with aspects related to product development, management, technology, R&D, and competition, there is a recent trend to link IM to sustainable development, open innovation, ecosystems, stakeholders’ engagement, and entrepreneurship.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management: Highlighting the Role of Context)
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Open AccessArticle
Utility of Certain AI Models in Climate-Induced Disasters
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Ritusnata Mishra, Sanjeev Kumar, Himangshu Sarkar and Chandra Shekhar Prasad Ojha
World 2024, 5(4), 865-900; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040045 - 8 Oct 2024
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To address the current challenge of climate change at the local and global levels, this article discusses a few important water resources engineering topics, such as estimating the energy dissipation of flowing waters over hilly areas through the provision of regulated stepped channels,
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To address the current challenge of climate change at the local and global levels, this article discusses a few important water resources engineering topics, such as estimating the energy dissipation of flowing waters over hilly areas through the provision of regulated stepped channels, predicting the removal of silt deposition in the irrigation canal, and predicting groundwater level. Artificial intelligence (AI) in water resource engineering is now one of the most active study topics. As a result, multiple AI tools such as Random Forest (RF), Random Tree (RT), M5P (M5 model trees), M5Rules, Feed-Forward Neural Networks (FFNNs), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost), and Support Vector Machines kernel-based model (SVM-Pearson VII Universal Kernel, Radial Basis Function) are tested in the present study using various combinations of datasets. However, in various circumstances, including predicting energy dissipation of stepped channels and silt deposition in rivers, AI techniques outperformed the traditional approach in the literature. Out of all the models, the GBM model performed better than other AI tools in both the field of energy dissipation of stepped channels with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.998, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.00182, and mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0016 and sediment trapping efficiency of vortex tube ejector with an R2 of 0.997, RMSE of 0.769, and MAE of 0.531 during testing. On the other hand, the AI technique could not adequately understand the diversity in groundwater level datasets using field data from various stations. According to the current study, the AI tool works well in some fields of water resource engineering, but it has difficulty in other domains in capturing the diversity of datasets.
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Open AccessArticle
Predicting Livestock Farmers’ Attitudes towards Improved Sheep Breeds in Ahar City through Data Mining Methods
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Jabraeil Vahedi, Masoumeh Niazifar, Mohammad Ghahremanzadeh, Akbar Taghizadeh, Soheila Abachi, Valiollah Palangi and Maximilian Lackner
World 2024, 5(4), 848-864; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040044 - 2 Oct 2024
Abstract
Sheep breeding is one of the most important economic activities in Ahar City, Iran. However, due to traditional production techniques, livestock farmers face the problem of low productivity. To address this issue, traditional breeds can be replaced with improved and high-yielding ones; in
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Sheep breeding is one of the most important economic activities in Ahar City, Iran. However, due to traditional production techniques, livestock farmers face the problem of low productivity. To address this issue, traditional breeds can be replaced with improved and high-yielding ones; in the first stage, this requires the acceptance of these new sheep breeds by the region’s ranchers. This research aimed to evaluate the attitudes of the livestock breeders of Ahar City towards the improved breeds of sheep and the influential factors. We collected data through in-person interviews using a simple random sampling method, surveying 100 sheep breeders in Ahar. The breeders were categorized into three groups based on their attitudes towards improved breeds: negative, indifferent, and positive. Next, we employed data mining-based methods, including multilayer perceptron neural networks, random forest, and random tree algorithms. These helped identify essential variables affecting ranchers’ attitudes. The results showed that several factors contribute to the ranchers’ philosophy, with the number of sheep sold in the past year and the total sheep ownership being the most significant ones. Comparing statistical evaluation criteria, we found that the random tree algorithm outperformed other methods in predicting and classifying livestock farmers, achieving a prediction accuracy rate of 86% for a sample of 100 farmers. Based on our findings, promoting training courses and raising awareness about the benefits of breeding new sheep breeds, along with providing facilities and credits based on economic conditions, can foster a positive attitude among herders. Increasing the number of sheep owned and improving marketing strategies can further enhance this positive outlook.
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(This article belongs to the Topic The New Era of Food and Agriculture: Sustainable Strategies to Achieve Zero Hunger)
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Olive Growing Farming System and Damage by Cicadas
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Ramón González-Ruiz, Valentina Cuevas-López, María Sainz-Pérez, Juan F. Cuesta Cocera and Antonio García-Fuentes
World 2024, 5(4), 832-847; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040043 - 30 Sep 2024
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Although cicadas have traditionally been considered pests of little or no importance, in recent decades, an increase in damages is being recorded in olive groves of southern Spain. New agricultural practices that affect soil management are behind it. During 2024, intensive sampling has
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Although cicadas have traditionally been considered pests of little or no importance, in recent decades, an increase in damages is being recorded in olive groves of southern Spain. New agricultural practices that affect soil management are behind it. During 2024, intensive sampling has been carried out in an organic grove with herbaceous cover (VC2), and in a second one with mixed vegetation cover (VC1, in which the crushed remains of the annual pruning are added). In both ecological groves, inventories of the vegetation have been carried out, as well as intensive sampling in the olive canopy, with the densities of oviposition injuries being recorded and compared with respect to conventional management (CONV). The objectives of this study are to compare the three managements based on the density of oviposition injuries, to determine the priority areas for cicadas’ oviposition within the trees; and to develop a sampling method to assess damage over large areas. The results show significant increases in the density of injuries in organic groves, with maximum values recorded in the olive grove with mixed cover. Oviposition injuries show an altitudinal gradient distribution, with maximum values in the lower zone of the trees. The factors involved are discussed.
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Open AccessArticle
Groundwater Quality and Potential Health Risk Assessment for Potable Use
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Pawan Kumar, Gagan Matta, Amit Kumar and Gaurav Pant
World 2024, 5(4), 805-831; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5040042 - 30 Sep 2024
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The Ramganga River basin, comprising three rivers, the Dhela, Dhandi, and Ramganga, plays a vital role in groundwater recharge, sustaining numerous industries, urban areas, and rural communities reliant on these rivers for daily activities. The study’s primary purpose was to analyze the groundwater
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The Ramganga River basin, comprising three rivers, the Dhela, Dhandi, and Ramganga, plays a vital role in groundwater recharge, sustaining numerous industries, urban areas, and rural communities reliant on these rivers for daily activities. The study’s primary purpose was to analyze the groundwater quality in the context of potability, irrigation, and health risks to the local inhabitants of the Ramganga River basin. In 2021–2022, 52 samples (26 × 2) were collected from 13 locations in two different seasons, i.e., pre-monsoon and post-monsoon, and 20 physico-chemical and heavy metal and metalloids were analyzed using the standard protocols. The result shows that heavy metal and metalloids and metalloid concentrations of Zn (0.309–1.787 and 0.613–1.633); Fe (0.290–0.965 and 0.253–1.720), Cd (0.001–0.002 and 0.001–0.002); As (0.001–0.002 and 0.001–0.002), Cr (0.009–0.027 and 0.011–0.029), and Pb (−0.001–0.010 and 0.00–0.010) values in mg/L are present in both seasons. The groundwater quality index (GWQI), heavy metal pollution Index (HPI), and heavy metal evaluation index (HEI) were used to assess the water quality and metal pollution in the basin area. As per GWQI values, water quality lies from excellent water quality (41.639 and 43.091) to good water quality (56.326 and 53.902); as per HPI values, it shows good (29.51 and 30.03) to poor quality (60.26 and 59.75) and HEI values show the low-level contamination (1.03–2.57 and 1.13–3.37) of heavy metal and metalloids in both seasons. According to the potential health risk assessment, infants show low risk in pre-monsoon and low risk to medium post-monsoon, while children and adults show low risk to high risk in both seasons. From the health risk perspective, it shows that children and adults have more concerns about non-carcinogenic effects, so adequate remedial measures and treatment are required to avoid the groundwater quality of the Ramganga River basin.
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing Police Technical Efficiency and the COVID-19 Technological Change from the Pact for Life Perspective
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Isloana Karla de França Barros, Thyago Celso Cavalcante Nepomuceno and Fernando Henrique Taques
World 2024, 5(3), 789-804; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030041 - 23 Sep 2024
Abstract
The Pact for Life program was one of Brazil’s most successful initiatives in coping with an elevated incidence of deliberate lethal violent crimes (CVLI) within the jurisdiction of Pernambuco. It delineated the state into 26 Integrated Security Areas (AIS) and applied strategies to
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The Pact for Life program was one of Brazil’s most successful initiatives in coping with an elevated incidence of deliberate lethal violent crimes (CVLI) within the jurisdiction of Pernambuco. It delineated the state into 26 Integrated Security Areas (AIS) and applied strategies to combine investigative and ostensive policing. Nevertheless, the pandemic shifted the production possibility of public security in directions that justify empirical investigations, not sufficiently covered in the current literature. This study employs variable returns to scale data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist productivity index (MPI) models to measure police efficiency and technology changes from 2019 to 2020. The proposed framework can be particularly suitable to capture changes in the production frontier resulting from technological advancements or regressions, which might otherwise be overlooked. Through a quantitative analysis, this research offers a comprehensive assessment of AISs and the operational performance of the Civil Police, emphasizing efficiency metrics and avenues for enhancement within a production-oriented context.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Strategic Approaches to Public Management)
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Open AccessEssay
Low-Income Fish Consumers’ Subsidies to the Fish Reduction Industry: The Case of Forage Fish
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Amir Neori and Moshe Agami
World 2024, 5(3), 769-788; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030040 - 23 Sep 2024
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Forage fish, a crucial source of nutrition in developing countries, are, unfortunately, primarily used for fishmeal and aquafeed production for aquaculture, which mainly serves consumers in developed countries. Industrial fish use leaves a meager portion of the catch available for direct human consumption
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Forage fish, a crucial source of nutrition in developing countries, are, unfortunately, primarily used for fishmeal and aquafeed production for aquaculture, which mainly serves consumers in developed countries. Industrial fish use leaves a meager portion of the catch available for direct human consumption in these fish-producing countries, leading to inflated fish prices locally. Overfishing forage fish due to the needs of the reduction fishery industry disrupts the ecosystem, diminishes the catch of larger fish, such as mackerel, and marginalizes local artisanal fishermen. This article briefly appraises the financial and nutritional impacts of elevated fish prices on low-income consumers in forage-fish-producing countries, drawing attention to the ethical implications of this situation. By reducing the supply to the industry, a hypothetical 10% boost in the annual supply of fresh forage fish to the current global supply of 5 million Mt (metric tons), markets could save consumers annually hundreds of millions of US dollars globally, tens of millions of US dollars nationally, and several dollars for families while improving the nutrition of families that depend on forage fish. The numbers suggest that even a modest supply shift from industry to the supply of forage fish to fresh fish markets could significantly benefit fish-producing nations and consumers. In some countries, such as South Africa, the orders of magnitude of these sums approach those of the entire value of local fish reduction industries. Increased fish prices could be considered involuntary subsidies by low-income consumers to the aquafeed and aquaculture industries. In summary, the current use of captured forage fish in reduction industries and aquaculture warrants further scrutiny, as it inadvertently burdens disadvantaged societies financially and nutritionally. This article proposes using alternative protein sources and cultivating non-carnivorous fish, among several optional measures, to ensure the equitable distribution of forage fish resources.
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Open AccessArticle
Anti-Corruption Research in Southeast Europe: A Comparative Assessment of Global and Regional Literature
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Nikša Alfirević, Ivan Pavić, Damir Piplica and Darko Rendulić
World 2024, 5(3), 751-768; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030039 - 18 Sep 2024
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This paper analyzes anti-corruption research and the body of knowledge produced by researchers in Southeast Europe (SEE). It compares it to the extant global anti-corruption literature. We consider all available scientific outputs from the SEE region, indexed by the Elsevier Scopus bibliometric database,
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This paper analyzes anti-corruption research and the body of knowledge produced by researchers in Southeast Europe (SEE). It compares it to the extant global anti-corruption literature. We consider all available scientific outputs from the SEE region, indexed by the Elsevier Scopus bibliometric database, and employ the Elsevier SciVal software solution to analyze the productivity and impact of the regional anti-corruption research. We also consider the influence of international cooperation on regional scientific productivity and its impact. The bibliometric comparison of the global and regional research and the authors’ qualitative assessment of these differences are performed. We also identify the implications and future research priorities.
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Open AccessArticle
Food Security among Rural Communities: Insights from Iran
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Ali Akbar Barati, Khalil Kalantari, Jassem Gholabifar and Milad Zhoolideh
World 2024, 5(3), 737-750; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030038 - 10 Sep 2024
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“Zero Hunger”, the second Sustainable Development Goal, is one of humanity’s most critical challenges and is deeply interlinked with food security. Food security encompasses multiple levels, from food availability to access to food stability. However, for most residents in rural areas of developing
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“Zero Hunger”, the second Sustainable Development Goal, is one of humanity’s most critical challenges and is deeply interlinked with food security. Food security encompasses multiple levels, from food availability to access to food stability. However, for most residents in rural areas of developing and underdeveloped countries, food security primarily means physical, economic, and sustained access to food. Thus, evaluations of food security in rural areas should differ from those in urban areas. This original study introduces a novel approach and an integrated index to assess and present access to food (AFI) using fuzzy and weighted mean techniques. It analyzed 300 rural households in southern Iran. The findings revealed that the AFI of the studied community was 0.551, indicating a moderate level of food security. Most households had intermediate physical, economic, and sustainable access to food, which means that they did not face any critical situations regarding food security. This study suggests that achieving food security requires a hierarchical approach. Realizing the goal of zero hunger in rural areas of less developed countries necessitates a distinct strategy compared to urban areas for policymakers to focus more on food availability and access as the initial levels of the food security pyramid.
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Open AccessArticle
Concurrent Analyses of Indonesia and Timor-Leste in Chinese Scholarship: Patterns, Themes, and Positioning
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Yu Tao
World 2024, 5(3), 723-736; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030037 - 29 Aug 2024
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This paper systematically examines Chinese academic discourse that concurrently addresses Indonesia and Timor-Leste, analysing 137 articles from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and indexed by the Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI). The analysis reveals significant publication trends, particularly during periods of
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This paper systematically examines Chinese academic discourse that concurrently addresses Indonesia and Timor-Leste, analysing 137 articles from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and indexed by the Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI). The analysis reveals significant publication trends, particularly during periods of heightened geopolitical and economic engagement, such as the global expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It identifies predominant themes such as economic cooperation, security concerns, and historical–cultural dynamics. The findings highlight China’s strategic interests and leadership aspirations in Southeast Asia, providing insights into how Chinese scholars perceive and articulate China’s strategic interests and diplomatic efforts in the region involving Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
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Open AccessArticle
Comparative Analysis of Japanese Rice Wine Export Trends: Large Firms in the Nada Region vs. SMEs in Other Regions
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Wakuo Saito, Makoto Nakakita and Teruo Nakatsuma
World 2024, 5(3), 700-722; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030036 - 27 Aug 2024
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In recent decades, Japanese rice wine, sake, exports to international countries have developed tremendously. Recently, in particular, sake exports are increasing in both volume and unit value due to factors such as the registration of Japanese cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage
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In recent decades, Japanese rice wine, sake, exports to international countries have developed tremendously. Recently, in particular, sake exports are increasing in both volume and unit value due to factors such as the registration of Japanese cuisine as an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO in 2013 and the economic situations including the rapid depreciation of Japanese yen. However, there are no studies which investigated sake exports via empirical methods as far as we know. In this study, we constructed hierarchical Bayesian models and analyzed unbalanced panel datasets on the export of Japanese sake to China, Hong Kong SAR China, Singapore, Taiwan and the US by using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and an ancillary-sufficiency interweaving strategy (ASIS) as the first empirical study of Japanese sake export. As a result, it was found that the trends in export volume and unit value to China, Hong Kong SAR China, Singapore and the US were significantly positive. In addition, although Taiwan had a negative trend before UNESCO registration, the trend became positive after its registration. Based on these results, it can be concluded that Japanese sake has been booming worldwide, though the degree may vary from country to country. Especially, we found that the UNESCO registration of Japanese food, Washoku, has significant effects on booming sake exports both in terms of volume and unit value. Finally, we divided the sake export data by regional customs offices in charge and conducted a detailed analysis on regional heterogeneity in sake exports. From the results, we found there were some different trends among regions.
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Open AccessArticle
Influential Factors on Clean Food Purchasing Decisions: A Case Study of Consumers in the Lower Northeastern Region of Thailand
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Adisak Suvittawat and Nutchanon Suvittawat
World 2024, 5(3), 683-699; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030035 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 1
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This study examines the determinants influencing clean food purchasing decisions among consumers in the lower northeastern region of Thailand. It addresses the significant research gap in understanding the interplay between product attributes, cultural background, and healthy eating behaviors. Using the Theory of Planned
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This study examines the determinants influencing clean food purchasing decisions among consumers in the lower northeastern region of Thailand. It addresses the significant research gap in understanding the interplay between product attributes, cultural background, and healthy eating behaviors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study employs a questionnaire survey with 392 valid responses, analyzed through structural equation modeling. Results indicate that both product attributes and cultural background significantly impact healthy eating behaviors, which, in turn, mediate their effects on clean food purchasing decisions. Specifically, healthy eating behaviors were found to partially mediate the relationship between product attributes and purchasing decisions, as well as between cultural background and purchasing decisions. The findings underscore the importance of promoting product attributes and cultural awareness to enhance healthy eating behaviors, thereby encouraging clean food purchases. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and marketers aiming to foster healthier eating habits through targeted interventions and culturally sensitive marketing strategies.
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Open AccessArticle
A Circular Economy Approach to Addressing Waste Management Challenges in Tamale’s Waste Management System
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Abdul-Wahab Tahiru, Samuel Jerry Cobbina and Wilhemina Asare
World 2024, 5(3), 659-682; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030034 - 18 Aug 2024
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Ghana Tamale’s current waste management system is overwhelmed by the growing waste crisis, necessitating the exploration of Waste-to-Energy technologies (WtE) as an innovative solution. This study explores challenges and opportunities for integrating WtE technologies into Tamale’s existing waste management system. Qualitative research identified
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Ghana Tamale’s current waste management system is overwhelmed by the growing waste crisis, necessitating the exploration of Waste-to-Energy technologies (WtE) as an innovative solution. This study explores challenges and opportunities for integrating WtE technologies into Tamale’s existing waste management system. Qualitative research identified policy hurdles, financial constraints, social concerns, and institutional weaknesses as key barriers. Conversely, stakeholder collaboration, public education, and capacity building emerged as some success factors. A proposed implementation plan emphasizes feasibility studies, public engagement, public–private partnerships (PPPs), and technology selection based on waste composition. Additionally, a novel framework for WtE integration within a broader Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) system is presented. This framework incorporates waste sorting, recycling, WtE alternatives, and responsible management of residuals. Validation by key stakeholders confirmed the framework’s potential to improve waste management in Tamale. By overcoming identified challenges and implementing the proposed framework, Tamale can achieve environmental sustainability, energy generation, and progress towards UN SDGs 7, 11, and 12. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and paves the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future for Tamale, potentially serving as a model for other developing cities.
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Open AccessArticle
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior Regarding Health and Environment in an Israeli Community: Implications for Sustainable Urban Environments and Public Health
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Keren Dopelt, Liza Aharon and Miri Rimon
World 2024, 5(3), 645-658; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030033 - 8 Aug 2024
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Over the past two decades, public health researchers have increasingly emphasized the need to adopt a new, comprehensive approach to the environment that addresses social and spatial aspects of urban life affecting public health in urban areas. Urban authorities can reduce environmental and
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Over the past two decades, public health researchers have increasingly emphasized the need to adopt a new, comprehensive approach to the environment that addresses social and spatial aspects of urban life affecting public health in urban areas. Urban authorities can reduce environmental and climate change damages by promoting green construction and clean energy production, establishing recycling stations, encouraging residents to change their consumption and eating patterns, and more. Municipal authorities in Ashkelon, Israel, like their counterparts around the world, recognize the critical importance of participating in global efforts to address the climate crisis. In this context, we conducted a survey to examine the associations between knowledge, attitudes, and behavior regarding health and the environment among Ashkelon residents. A total of 322 participants from the city’s adult population completed an online questionnaire. Our findings indicate that Ashkelon residents understand the connection between the environment and human behavior and have a positive attitude toward preserving the environment. However, not all the city’s residents exhibit pro-environmental behavior, and not all pro-environmental facilities are accessible to all city residents. Significant positive connections were found between knowledge, attitudes, pro-environmental behavior, and accessibility to facilities. Participants who kept pets at home demonstrated more pro-environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior than those who did not have pets. Strengthening positive attitudes towards the environment is essential if individuals are to acquire knowledge and understand how to maintain a healthy environment. To achieve this end, extensive public education on environmental and climate change issues is needed, and the city environment should promote a healthy lifestyle while preserving the environment.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Transition to Sustainable Health and Development: Economic, Policy and Society)
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Open AccessReview
Transition toward Sustainability in the Moroccan Food System: Drivers, Outcomes, and Challenges
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Asmaa Benayad, Samir Bikri, Zakia Hindi, Amina Lafram, Chaimaa Belfakira, Fatima-Zahra Yassif, Hamid El Bilali and Youssef Aboussaleh
World 2024, 5(3), 627-644; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030032 - 6 Aug 2024
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Nowadays, food systems are undergoing major transformations to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic in developing countries. This work highlights food systems’ transition towards sustainability, focusing on Morocco. It was carried
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Nowadays, food systems are undergoing major transformations to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic in developing countries. This work highlights food systems’ transition towards sustainability, focusing on Morocco. It was carried out through searching, selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing relevant scholarly and gray literature. In Morocco, a meaningful transition towards sustainability is being guided and carried out on several levels, despite numerous challenges, e.g., inability to cope with the detrimental effects of climate change and escalating water scarcity constitute fundamental problems. However, there are conflicting views on the outcomes of food system transformation. Some studies showed that Morocco has increased its agri-food export and reduced poverty to less than 5% of the population over the past decade; the proportion of wasted and malnourished children has declined from 25 to 15% and 4 to 3%, respectively, and the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI) showed a score of 9.0. Other studies showed that North Africa has entered a food security crisis; specifically, food inflation has reached unprecedented levels in Morocco. This paper provides valuable insights for policymakers and planners to design evidence-based policies and strategies to boost sustainable development in Morocco.
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Open AccessArticle
Herders’ Haven or Farmers’ Foe? Exploring Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives on Grazing Reserves and Transhumance Corridors
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Richard Apatewen Azerigyik, Michael Poku-Boansi and Justice Kuffour Owusu-Ansah
World 2024, 5(3), 603-626; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030031 - 31 Jul 2024
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This study assesses the role of grazing reserves and transhumance corridor systems in enhancing sustainable transhumant pastoralism, drawing on the collaborative planning theory as its theoretical framework. This research aims to understand how these land management strategies impact the sustainability of pastoral practices
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This study assesses the role of grazing reserves and transhumance corridor systems in enhancing sustainable transhumant pastoralism, drawing on the collaborative planning theory as its theoretical framework. This research aims to understand how these land management strategies impact the sustainability of pastoral practices from the viewpoints of various stakeholders, including farmers, herders, policymakers and local community leaders. This study adopted a mixed-method research design and an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach. Based on the research approach, this study first gathers data through key informant interviews and, subsequently, cross-sectional surveys of 254 crop farmers and 82 herders in the Sekyere Kumawu and Sekyere Afram Plains Districts of Ghana. The findings indicate mixed perceptions among stakeholders regarding delineating grazing reserves and transhumance corridor systems. While most farmers and herders recognise the potential benefits of delineating grazing reserves and corridors in reducing conflict and promoting environmental sustainability, concerns persist about land rights and the flexibility of resource use. While herders see these policies as providing secure grazing territories, farmers fear losing land for agricultural expansion. This study also notes a “paradox of pastoral land tenure”, where herders gain access to grazing resources but face mobility restrictions. Socioeconomic factors like age, education, experience, and association membership significantly influence stakeholders’ perceptions, particularly among herders directly dependent on these resources. These findings underline the complexities in policymaking for land use, emphasising the need for inclusive and well-informed approaches.
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Open AccessArticle
Carbon Emissions, Health Expenditure, and Economic Effects on Life Expectancy in Malaysia
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Norkhairunnisa Redzwan and Rozita Ramli
World 2024, 5(3), 588-602; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030030 - 30 Jul 2024
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Population aging, urbanization, and life expectancy are among the main pillars of sustainable economic, social, and environmental development of the future, as outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Globally, the current population structure exhibits an increasing proportion of
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Population aging, urbanization, and life expectancy are among the main pillars of sustainable economic, social, and environmental development of the future, as outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Globally, the current population structure exhibits an increasing proportion of the elderly along with rising healthcare costs and climate change. Malaysia faces a similar experience, where 14% of its population is expected to account for the elderly by 2030. To achieve the SDGs, attention should be given to their pillars, namely life expectancy, health expenditure, economic development, and carbon emissions. Limited research that addresses these key factors has been conducted, especially in emerging economies, such as Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the existing literature by analyzing the long-term and short-term relationships between carbon emissions, GDP, health expenditure, and life expectancy in Malaysia. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds cointegration test was adopted to determine the long-term and short-term effects on life expectancy from 1997 to 2021. The findings indicate that cointegration existed among the variables, and carbon emissions and health expenditure had a statistically significant relationship with life expectancy in the short run. Hence, greater attention should be paid to these two factors, particularly in the short term, to ensure that Malaysia can maintain the health and well-being of the nation in line with the SDG requirements.
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Open AccessArticle
Exploring the Impact of Foreign Aid, Agricultural Production, and Corporate Social Responsibility on Poverty Reduction in Pakistan
by
Asad Abbas, Feng Lu, Muhammad Yaseen and Muhhamad Ameen
World 2024, 5(3), 570-587; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030029 - 10 Jul 2024
Abstract
For many years, Pakistan’s economic progress and development have primarily depended on agriculture. However, widespread rural poverty impairs agricultural productivity, which worsens the outlook for growth for both the agricultural sector and the nation as a whole. Raising farmers’ incomes through rural development
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For many years, Pakistan’s economic progress and development have primarily depended on agriculture. However, widespread rural poverty impairs agricultural productivity, which worsens the outlook for growth for both the agricultural sector and the nation as a whole. Raising farmers’ incomes through rural development is a key component of agricultural reform, and the prime objective of this study is to identify how government policies and foreign aid affect Pakistan’s degree of rural poverty. This research aims to check the mediating role of rural development for the relationship of foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. This research also examines the moderating role of government support in the relationship of rural development with poverty reduction. In this regard, the current study proposes four hypotheses of direct relationships, three mediating relationships, and one moderating relationship. The population comprised farmers. The sample size of 119 was determined using G*Power with medium effect size settings, ensuring a robust representation of the target group. To gather primary data, a close-ended structured questionnaire was administered, employing a 7-point Likert scale to gather respondents’ opinions. This study investigates the Punjab province’s agricultural landscape from a quantitative perspective, using convenient sampling to identify the characteristics that contribute to reducing poverty, and was conducted from January to December 2023. Analytical procedures utilizing Smart PLS 4.0.9.6 for SEM testing reveal that all proposed hypotheses, including direct, mediating, and moderating, are accepted. The main results show that rural development significantly mediates the relationship between foreign aid, agricultural production, and corporate social responsibility with poverty reduction. Furthermore, government support positively moderates the relationship between rural development and poverty reduction. The findings underscore the significance of rural development, coupled with government support, as a pivotal factor in effectively reducing poverty in Pakistan’s economic landscape.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corporate Governance, Social Responsibility and Performance)
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Open AccessArticle
Dissipative Structure Analysis and Ecological Disorganization: A Critique Drawn from Ecological Marxist and Treadmill-of-Production Approaches
by
Michael J. Lynch and Michael A. Long
World 2024, 5(3), 551-569; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030028 - 5 Jul 2024
Abstract
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Among environmental sociologists, ecological Marxists argue that there is an association between capitalism and ecological destruction/disorganization. This argument suggests that capitalism and nature are in contradiction with one another, so that the expansion of capitalism necessarily results in the destruction of nature. Green
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Among environmental sociologists, ecological Marxists argue that there is an association between capitalism and ecological destruction/disorganization. This argument suggests that capitalism and nature are in contradiction with one another, so that the expansion of capitalism necessarily results in the destruction of nature. Green criminologists expand on this point and argue that ecological disorganization generates legal and illegal green crimes and injustice. This capitalism–nature association suggests that solving the current ecological crisis would require replacing capitalism. In contrast, the dissipative structure analysis (DSA) argues that capitalist nations pass through phases of development and that as advanced capitalist nations age, the level of ecological destruction they cause becomes attenuated. If true, this outcome suggests that capitalism might solve the problem of ecological destruction by aging. This article reviews these two theoretical arguments, exposes the limitation of the dissipative structure argument, and suggests that future research is required to completely address dissipative structure assumptions. A major limitation of the dissipative structure analysis is its failure to account for the effect of developing capitalist nations on the expansion of ecological disorganization. Trend charts are employed to illustrate the limitations of the DSA hypothesis concerning reduced ecological disorganization.
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Determinants of Human Development Index in South Africa: A Comparative Analysis of Different Time Periods
by
Kanayo Ogujiuba, Lethabo Maponya and Nancy Stiegler
World 2024, 5(3), 527-550; https://doi.org/10.3390/world5030027 - 3 Jul 2024
Abstract
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The Human Development Index is a useful measure of a country’s overall prosperity and standard of living (HDI). The Human Development Index (HDI) provides data on the social and economic progress of a nation by accounting for variables such as life expectancy, education
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The Human Development Index is a useful measure of a country’s overall prosperity and standard of living (HDI). The Human Development Index (HDI) provides data on the social and economic progress of a nation by accounting for variables such as life expectancy, education attainment, and per capita income. This research delves into the intricate correlation of a nation’s historical background, policy framework, and advancements on the Human Development Index. The remarkable journey of South Africa, from apartheid to inclusive growth, is an important example. The study uses an average yearly growth rate to examine how changes in political ideologies, ongoing development initiatives, and historical contexts of inequality have shaped South Africa’s HDI trajectory. By examining crucial turning points and policy influences, the study aims to reveal the complex relationship of factors affecting human development results. Despite improvement, challenges like unemployment and poverty continue. The study stresses the relevance of understanding historical context and policy changes in shaping HDI outcomes. Ultimately, the study emphasises the need of maintaining a long-term commitment to effective and inclusive human development policies. Understanding the complex relationship of factors influencing South Africa’s HDI will help policymakers make better informed decisions that will lead to a more prosperous and fair society for all South Africans.
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