Sustainability

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16 pages, 2840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Technology in High-Income Economies: The Role of Innovation

by Koray Uğurluay and Dervis Kirikkaleli

Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3320; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063320 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3393

The aim of this article is to examine the effects of innovation on the availability of cutting-edge technologies while controlling education, public funds and life expectancy in high-income countries from 2008 to 2018. In this study, Westerlund cointegration, fully modified ordinary least squares [...] Read more.

The aim of this article is to examine the effects of innovation on the availability of cutting-edge technologies while controlling education, public funds and life expectancy in high-income countries from 2008 to 2018. In this study, Westerlund cointegration, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares tests were applied. The research results indicate that: (i) there is a cointegrating link between the availability of the latest technologies and innovation, education, public funding and life expectancy; (ii) innovation increases the availability of cutting-edge technologies in high-income economies, whereas education, public funds and life expectancy contribute to sustainable technological availability; (iii) innovation, education, public funding and life expectancy result in the availability of cutting-edge technologies. The results are important in showing why policymakers in high-income economies should foster innovation capacity to sustain technological development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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17 pages, 86724 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Statistical Imbalance: A Long-Term Neglected Defect in UN Comtrade Dataset

by Luoming Hu, Changqing Song, Sijing Ye and Peichao Gao

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1431; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031431 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2469

Abstract

The bilateral trade data provided by the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database are some of the most authoritative trade statistics and have been widely used in many research fields. Here, we propose a new form of inconsistency in its records, namely statistical [...] Read more.

The bilateral trade data provided by the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database are some of the most authoritative trade statistics and have been widely used in many research fields. Here, we propose a new form of inconsistency in its records, namely statistical imbalance, which refers to the phenomenon of inequality between the import or export trade value of a commodity category and the total value of all its subcategories. We investigated the frequency and spatial-temporal patterns of the statistical imbalances of 15 reporters (i.e., Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, the Rep. of Korea, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and Vietnam) from 1996–2016 and explored their distributional differences in commodity categories with a co-clustering algorithm. The results show that statistical imbalance is widespread with obvious clustering patterns. Trade records related to specific categories such as fossil fuels, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and unspecified commodity categories presented severe statistical imbalances, which may lead to erroneous trade research results. Since statistical imbalance is difficult to detect in studies focusing only on specific commodity categories, we suggested that researchers should prescreen the data for statistical imbalance to ensure the validity of their results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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21 pages, 1397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Economy, Technological Innovation and High-Quality Economic Development: Based on Spatial Effect and Mediation Effect

by Chenhui Ding, Chao Liu, Chuiyong Zheng and Feng Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010216 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 149 | Viewed by 15223

Abstract

Technological innovation and high-quality economic development are inevitable requirements of sustainable development, and the digital economy has gradually become a new engine to enhance technological innovation and the high-quality development of China’s economy. Deeply discussing the effect of digital economy on high-quality economic [...] Read more.

Technological innovation and high-quality economic development are inevitable requirements of sustainable development, and the digital economy has gradually become a new engine to enhance technological innovation and the high-quality development of China’s economy. Deeply discussing the effect of digital economy on high-quality economic development and clarifying the mechanism behind it can effectively grant the boosting power of digital economy to China’s high-quality development, which is of great practical significance to China’s sustainable economic development. In this study, the mechanism, effect, and regional heterogeneity of the impact of the digital economy on the level of high-quality economic development in 30 Chinese provinces from 2011–2019 were measured and empirically tested using a mediating effects model and a spatial Durbin model, among others. The results showed that the overall level of digital economy and high-quality development is not high, and there were both high agglomeration and low agglomeration, with obvious spatial path dependence and spatial lock-in. Digital economy could promote the high-quality development level of the economy, and the spatial spillover effect was remarkable. In addition, the function of digital economy in promoting high-quality economic development in the eastern, central, and western regions was gradually weakened. Besides, the technological innovation was an important transmission path of digital economy to high-quality economic development. Based on these findings, it is proposed that decision-makers should strengthen digitalization efforts so that the digital economy can become a powerful tool to narrow the digital divide. Further, the dynamic and differentiated digital economy development strategy should be implemented to reduce regional development imbalances in an effective manner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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17 pages, 285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Usability of the G7 Open Government Data Portals and Lessons Learned

by Ibrahim Mutambik, Abdullah Almuqrin, John Lee, Justin Zuopeng Zhang, Abdulaziz Alomran, Taha Omar, Ahmad Floos and Abdullah Homadi

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13740; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413740 - 13 Dec 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2481

Abstract

Recent advances in technology have made truly open and accessible government significantly more realisable. One of the ways in which governments are using this technology is in the implementation of online portals that allow open (i.e., public and unrestricted) access to data and [...] Read more.

Recent advances in technology have made truly open and accessible government significantly more realisable. One of the ways in which governments are using this technology is in the implementation of online portals that allow open (i.e., public and unrestricted) access to data and use of data. Such portals can be used by citizens and professionals to facilitate improved decision-making across a wide range of areas, from car-parking to promoting entrepreneurialism. However, the existence of portals per se is not enough. To maximise their potential, users must also feel that they are both accessible and usable. To gain insights into the current state of usability of OGD portals for professionals working in data-related areas, a comparative study of the portals of the G7 group was carried out, using a mixed methodology. This is the first specific comparison of these portals for such users, as well as the first study to add a user-centred qualitative dimension to the research. The study’s findings showed that the G7 countries are not maximising the potential of their portals or collaborating effectively. Addressing these issues, and building better cross-national consistency, would help to improve the value delivered by investment in OGD portals. The study also further supported an existing user-centred, heuristic evaluation framework for application to a more specific user group, as well as more generally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

20 pages, 1191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determinant Factors for Adoption of Government as a Platform in South Korea: Mediating Effects on the Perception of Intelligent Information Technology

by Hyungjun Seo and Seunghwan Myeong

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10464; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810464 - 20 Sep 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2827

Abstract

This study aims to shed light on determinant factors for the introduction of Government as a Platform (GaaP) by public officers who can be platform providers or main stakeholders in GaaP. It focuses on public officers in 261 Korean public agencies. In order [...] Read more.

This study aims to shed light on determinant factors for the introduction of Government as a Platform (GaaP) by public officers who can be platform providers or main stakeholders in GaaP. It focuses on public officers in 261 Korean public agencies. In order to verify the research model’s hypotheses, we take advantage of Structural Equation Modeling and the Technology Acceptance Model. As a first result, concerning the direct effect on GaaP, the quality of open data, the scope of the stakeholders, and attitudes to civic engagement have a positive relationship on the perceived usefulness of Intelligent Information Technology (IIT). Second, in terms of the effect of IIT on GaaP, the perceived usefulness of IIT mediates positively on the intention to adopt GaaP based on the quality of open data, the scope of the stakeholders, and attitudes towards civic engagement. Based on these results, policy implications can be described as follows. Besides managing internal open data, governments should actively mine new open data that can create added value for innovation. They need to create an easily cooperative environment with other stakeholders, especially non-public participants, and governments should encourage public officers to more actively accept and utilize IIT in their jobs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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13 pages, 364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Applying the Open Government Principles to the University’s Strategic Planning: A Sound Practice

by Cristina Moreno-Carmona, José Manuel Feria-Domínguez and Alicia Troncoso

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1826; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051826 - 28 Feb 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2378

Abstract

This paper describes an innovative experience based on the citizen participation as a fundamental principle of the Open Government, regarding the strategic planning in higher education institutions. Such innovation lies on two main pillars: the stakeholders’ approach (versus the traditional product-service orientation) and [...] Read more.

This paper describes an innovative experience based on the citizen participation as a fundamental principle of the Open Government, regarding the strategic planning in higher education institutions. Such innovation lies on two main pillars: the stakeholders’ approach (versus the traditional product-service orientation) and a web platform based on UserVoice^® and Wordpress^® software. The web platform was designed not only for building up a consensual strategic plan in a medium-sized Spanish public university, but also to monitor and control it once implemented. During the participation stage, all the proposals were openly discussed and voted by the whole university community. One year later, the online platform for monitoring the Strategic Plan was re-launched in order to rate, comment and vote the values reached by the key performance indicators. The adoption of such technological tools turns into a sound practice of governance for sustainable strategic management, by encouraging the collaborative workflow, participation, reflection and learning. Moreover, it promotes the stakeholders’ identification with corporate goals and enhance their commitment to the university’s strategic plan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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13 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Digital Government to Digital Governance: Are We There Yet?

by Burak Erkut

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030860 - 23 Jan 2020

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 12163

Abstract

This paper focuses on the knowledge problem of economics by discussing its current status in light of digitalization. This problem highlights the paradox of not having the necessary knowledge to take an economic decision, but pretending to have it and act, hence questioning [...] Read more.

This paper focuses on the knowledge problem of economics by discussing its current status in light of digitalization. This problem highlights the paradox of not having the necessary knowledge to take an economic decision, but pretending to have it and act, hence questioning the legitimacy of governmental decision-making and its impacts on the economy. Current technological developments are challenging this problem. Big Data has been a neglected phenomenon when it comes to its impact on the nature of knowledge and the decision-making processes associated with it, and it is easy to think that Big Data solves this problem. This research gap is evaluated by re-visiting the knowledge problem and evaluating whether the knowledge problem can still be valid in the digital era. The digital governance issue has been largely covered by literature in terms of technical possibilities. However, the main challenge is not the technical one, but rather how to create governance structures to involve people in decision-making processes, and at the same not fall into the trap of the knowledge problem. The sustainable transition from digital government to digital governance is a transition from a technical structure to multiple processes on different levels, and these processes have their own limits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

32 pages, 3609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Equality in Income and Sustainability in Economic Growth: Agent-Based Simulations on OECD Data

by Shungo Sakaki

Sustainability 2019, 11(20), 5803; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11205803 - 18 Oct 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4013

Abstract

In countries that have developed under the current market economy, inequalities in income distribution tend to increase with three different trends, i.e., high (United States, United Kingdom, Japan), low (North Europe countries), and medium Gini coefficient levels. On the other hand, the relationship [...] Read more.

In countries that have developed under the current market economy, inequalities in income distribution tend to increase with three different trends, i.e., high (United States, United Kingdom, Japan), low (North Europe countries), and medium Gini coefficient levels. On the other hand, the relationship between income distribution and social welfare is generally a difficult problem to solve in economics. So, this paper discusses the impact of income distribution on the macroeconomy, limiting the scope to consistency with long-term economic growth. We attempt to answer these economic policy issues by simulation using an agent-based model based on replicator dynamics. As a result of the simulation in this paper, in general, in countries with the high marginal propensity to consume, long-term growth can be maintained by inducing equality in income distribution. On the other hand, a mature country with a low marginal propensity to consume can sustain not so high but stable growth despite increasing inequality in income distribution. According to simulation results based on OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) data, in the former UK, US, and Japan, the lower the Gini coefficient is, the higher the growth potential is, while in the latter Norway and Luxembourg, relatively stable growth is maintained even if the Gini coefficient increases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Governance and Digital Economy: Are We There Yet?)

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