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Sustainability as an Inevitable Paradigm of Business and Social Relations

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 15798

Special Issue Editors

Department of Transport, University of Economics, Katowice, Poland
Interests: sustainable moblity; passenger transport; ICT in passenger transport
Rybnik Branch, University of Economics, Katowice, Poland
Interests: sustainable employmet; HRM; consumption; CSR; consumer behaviour
Rybnik Branch, University of Economics, Katowice, Poland
Interests: banking; financial markets; green finance; digitalization; monetary policy; sustainability issues in finance and banking; financial education; financial inclusion and literacy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In today’s world, the role of sustainability as a paradigm of business and social relations is unquestionable. The first two decades of the 21st century proved that the shift towards a sustainability-oriented society and economy is a condition for the existence of future generations. Building a  sustainability-oriented society requires complex actions in different areas, taking into consideration a variety of perspectives: economic, behavioural, financial, environmental, educational, technological, etc.  Different aspects of sustainability should be addressed, including cultural and social sustainability, the sustainability of businesses, environmental and employment relations, marketing and sustainable production and consumption, psychology and communication for sustainability, sustainable design, the tourism and hospitality industry, sustainable transport, finance and management. General issues of sustainable development should be supplemented by cross-cultural and country-specific issues to stimulate openness to and awareness of different cultures and tolerance of and responsiveness to different needs that can lead to strengthening societies’ potential.

In today’s world, technology proliferation plays the core role in driving the transition to sustainable development by, for example, enabling the emergence of new business models that reflect social needs resulting from changes and predominating megatrends. There have been various ideas regarding how utilizing different tools can benefit businesses from marketing, relationship building to CSR- related merits, while techniques and game dynamics can encourage consumers to behave in a certain way. The only way to succeed is by combining the efforts, perspectives and stances of various players whose understanding, awareness and actions can result in slowing down the pace of destruction to the environment and provide for the development of societies without compromising their future. 

Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to bring together multidisciplinary studies, thus contributing to the development of new policies, technologies, products, strategies and approaches that can lead to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Dr. Anna Urbanek
Dr. Ewa Wójcik
Dr. Tomasz Zieliński
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • circular economy
  • sustainability strategy
  • socioecological transformation
  • green economy
  • sustainable policy
  • sustainable mobility
  • business ethics
  • eco-innovation
  • resource-efficiency
  • sustainable business
  • interdyscplinary sustainability studies
  • digitalization and IoT
  • sustainable finance
  • sustainable tourism
  • communication for sustainability
  • cleaner production
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
  • education for sustainability

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2933 KiB  
Article
Did the Quality of Digital Communication Skills in Education Improve after the Pandemic? Evidence from HEIs
by Anna Urbanek, Anna Losa, Monika Wieczorek-Kosmala, Karel Hlaváček and Aleš Lokaj
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11878; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511878 - 02 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1110
Abstract
In the global transition, digital technologies are perceived as important drivers of change. Contemporary IT technologies help to enhance the productivity and efficiency of numerous systems on the way to achieving sustainable development goals. Wider use of digital communication tools in HEIs (higher [...] Read more.
In the global transition, digital technologies are perceived as important drivers of change. Contemporary IT technologies help to enhance the productivity and efficiency of numerous systems on the way to achieving sustainable development goals. Wider use of digital communication tools in HEIs (higher education institutions) can reduce inequalities and increase inclusiveness of tertiary education. In this paper, we present the results of exploratory research aimed at assessing whether COVID-19 has improved digital communication skills in higher education. We revised the quality of digital direct and indirect communication skills between students and teachers (both ways), by referring to the level of satisfaction of both sides of digital communication (teachers and students). The results indicate that there is a statistically significant improvement in the quality of digital communication skills, in particular, if we compare the position of both students and teachers after the pandemic, relative to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period. Our investigation confirms that COVID-19 was a shock that enhanced the improvement of digital communication skills in higher education, and the pandemic experience had a positive impact on the more efficient use of digital education technologies. Full article
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19 pages, 61520 KiB  
Article
Identification and Prediction Network Analysis Based on Multivariate Data of Urban Form: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China
by Zeyang Yu, Yuan Huang and Yang Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11857; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511857 - 01 Aug 2023
Viewed by 819
Abstract
The rapid growth of urban populations has resulted in a scarcity of land, thus making sustainable urban development an urgent matter. Although Shenzhen has implemented land policies and optimized its functional layouts, these measures have inadvertently contributed to a shortage of available land [...] Read more.
The rapid growth of urban populations has resulted in a scarcity of land, thus making sustainable urban development an urgent matter. Although Shenzhen has implemented land policies and optimized its functional layouts, these measures have inadvertently contributed to a shortage of available land for development. The city’s exponential population growth and expansive urban expansion have outpaced the supply of land. This study endeavors to identify urban commercial patterns by employing multiple data sources and applying machine learning and network analysis to predict future commercial areas. The results demonstrated that the identification of commercial points of interest and analysis of land surface temperature distributions made Futian district the primary area for ongoing commercial development, while also revealing a positive correlation between these two datasets. By leveraging network analysis to thoroughly examine this data, Bao’an district was highlighted as the future focal point for Shenzhen’s commercial sector, with 22 core nodes identified in total. Finally, by assessing the network centrality within the spatial networks, and utilizing clustering algorithms to categorize nodes into groups, the economic clustering pattern was determined as the predominant model for Shenzhen’s commercial growth. This research represents a significant contribution to the realm of sustainable urban development and presents a valuable framework for other cities to adopt. Full article
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15 pages, 816 KiB  
Article
Sustainable FDI in the Digital Economy
by Aneta Bobenič Hintošová and Glória Bódy
Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10794; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410794 - 10 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1339
Abstract
The shift towards a digital economy should lead to changes in the allocation methods of foreign direct investment (FDI), especially given the reduced need to transfer physical assets. At the same time, the need to understand and examine the sustainability of FDI as [...] Read more.
The shift towards a digital economy should lead to changes in the allocation methods of foreign direct investment (FDI), especially given the reduced need to transfer physical assets. At the same time, the need to understand and examine the sustainability of FDI as a relevant attribute throughout the life cycle of a given investment should be emphasized. The paper seeks to answer the research question whether more sustainable foreign direct investment is attracted in the digital economy. Hence, the paper explores the interlinks between the sustainability attributes of FDI and the development of the digital economy. For this purpose, a cluster analysis under the conditions of the countries of the European Union is conducted. The results of the cluster analysis carried out for the two periods show certain similarities, especially within the Nordic, Visegrad, Balkan, and Baltic groups of countries. The first group mentioned can be characterized by advanced digital development as one of the possible driving forces to attract sustainable FDI. The remaining groups show certain differences in this regard. Based on the results, the paper brings some policy implications towards emphasizing the sustainability attributes of foreign direct investment in the digital economy, especially through the implementation of the concept of sustainable investment promotion policy. Full article
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13 pages, 7478 KiB  
Article
Can the Digital Economy Improve the Level of High-Quality Financial Development? Evidence from China
by Hao Zhou, Xinyi Li and Xiaoli Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7451; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097451 - 30 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Background: High-quality development has permeated all aspects of China’s economic and social development. Nevertheless, few scholars have studied high-quality financial development. Purpose: Explore the spatial spillover impact of the digital economy on high-quality financial development by adding a spatial dimension to existing studies. [...] Read more.
Background: High-quality development has permeated all aspects of China’s economic and social development. Nevertheless, few scholars have studied high-quality financial development. Purpose: Explore the spatial spillover impact of the digital economy on high-quality financial development by adding a spatial dimension to existing studies. Methods: We construct a high-quality financial development indicator system and explore the digital economy’s impact on high-quality financial development through the spatial Durbin model. Results: The digital economy helps promote high-quality financial development with spatial spillover and feedback effects. Control variables, such as the number of employees and the degree of openness, contribute to high-quality financial development. Conclusions: The digital economy contributes significantly to high-quality financial development. Full article
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15 pages, 1090 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Industrial Intelligence on Carbon Emissions: Evidence from the Three Largest Economies
by Xiekui Zhang and Hongfei Zhu
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 6316; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076316 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1387
Abstract
Many studies are exploring the generated factors of carbon emissions to make a contribution to environmentally sustainable development as carbon emissions have increased by more than 5% in the past ten years. However, few investigations have considered the effects of industrial intelligence on [...] Read more.
Many studies are exploring the generated factors of carbon emissions to make a contribution to environmentally sustainable development as carbon emissions have increased by more than 5% in the past ten years. However, few investigations have considered the effects of industrial intelligence on carbon emissions. In order to discover whether the development of industrial robots will influence the environment, this paper employs the IFR data of industrial robots from 2006 to 2021 to investigate their impacts on carbon emissions in the three largest economies by using the classical linear regression model, OLS (Ordinary Least Squares), from the factors of robot installations and robot density, which are measured by ownership per thousand manufacturing people, respectively. The positive correlation coefficients of robot installation and density in the USA are 0.010 and 0.011; they are 0.185 and 0.204 in China; and 0.156 and 0.142 in Japan. To ensure the reliability of the results, we also do a robustness test and an endogeneity test by using the two-way fixed effect model, and they show the same results. The main findings of our study show that industrial intelligence can have significant positive impacts on carbon emissions in the three economies and this means that the application of industrial intelligence not only accelerates economic growth, but also causes the pressure on the environment. Moreover, the verification results also indicate that the impacts of industrial intelligence on carbon emissions are dominated by driving effects, and the higher the robot density, the stronger the driving effects on carbon emissions. Based on the findings, corresponding policy suggestions are proposed to guide governments in trimming their environment protection policies more efficiently. Full article
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13 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Bioeconomy: The Innovative Twin of Sustainability
by Markus Vogt and Ivo Frankenreiter
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14924; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214924 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1238
Abstract
With its far-reaching promise of a new synthesis of ecology and economy, the concept of the bioeconomy is a shimmering, ambiguous term in need of ethical and conceptual interpretation. The paper identifies potentials and strategies of the bioeconomy for a knowledge-based energy and [...] Read more.
With its far-reaching promise of a new synthesis of ecology and economy, the concept of the bioeconomy is a shimmering, ambiguous term in need of ethical and conceptual interpretation. The paper identifies potentials and strategies of the bioeconomy for a knowledge-based energy and raw material turnaround, which, by turning away from fossil resources, can at the same time contribute significantly to waste prevention. The focus is on ethical criteria for a responsible bioeconomy. In terms of environmental ethics, this approach has exemplary significance because it currently represents the most prominent concept for unfolding and operationalizing the innovative side of sustainability. The paper therefore argues for an expanded concept of the bioeconomy that includes the reproductive capacity of nature, for which soil conservation is a strong example. This will be unfolded with the proposal of an ethics of innovation. Full article
13 pages, 725 KiB  
Article
The Use of Cluster Analysis to Assess the Threats of Poverty or Social Exclusion in EU Countries: The Case of People with Disabilities Compared to People without Disabilities
by Bożena Frączek
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114223 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1239
Abstract
The main research objective was to assess the range of threats related to poverty or social exclusion in EU countries among people with disabilities as compared to people without disabilities. The research used the available poverty determinants, including the percentage of low work [...] Read more.
The main research objective was to assess the range of threats related to poverty or social exclusion in EU countries among people with disabilities as compared to people without disabilities. The research used the available poverty determinants, including the percentage of low work intensity, the percentage of low income, the percentage of material deprivation, the poverty risk rate, the percentage of severe disability, living conditions and population income, and the overall risk of household poverty or exclusion, which are available in Eurostat databases. The data used in the research relates to 2018 and was published in 2021. The research used cluster analysis, more specifically one of the agglomeration clustering methods, i.e., Ward’s method. Separate cluster analysis using Ward’s method was carried out for people with disabilities and for people without disabilities. The analysis identifies two clusters among people with disabilities and two clusters among people without disabilities. In the group of people with disabilities, cluster 2 includes 19 countries with a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion, while cluster 1 includes eight countries with a lower risk of poverty or social exclusion. In turn, in the group of people without disabilities, cluster 2 includes nine countries with a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion, while cluster 1 includes 18 countries with a lower risk of poverty or social exclusion. Full article
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15 pages, 2560 KiB  
Article
Sustainability Literacy and Financial Literacy of Young People in the Baltic States
by Dainora Gedvilaitė, Tadas Gudaitis, Giedrė Lapinskienė, Justinas Brazaitis, Jurgis Žižys and Askoldas Podviezko
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114013 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3381
Abstract
The stream of scientific articles on sustainability, financial literacy, and sustainability literacy shows their importance in the transformation process. New financial instruments with sustainable or green features have been introduced in the financial market. As a result, financial literacy is becoming more complex [...] Read more.
The stream of scientific articles on sustainability, financial literacy, and sustainability literacy shows their importance in the transformation process. New financial instruments with sustainable or green features have been introduced in the financial market. As a result, financial literacy is becoming more complex and the need for sustainability literacy is also increasing. Financial literacy now includes not only the knowledges, attitudes, and behavior of financial well-being but also positive impacts on environmental and social development. This article presupposes financial literacy and sustainability literacy are key instruments for the sustainable development of society. The aim of this article is to analyze the scientific literature on sustainability literacy and financial literacy and investigate the level of sustainability literacy and financial literacy among young people aged 15–30 years in the Baltic states. A systematic review of the literature was carried out followed by a survey, which revealed some differences between Estonia and Latvia and Lithuania in terms of sustainability and financial literacy levels. Full article
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48 pages, 8983 KiB  
Article
Green Bonds as an Instrument for Financing Ecological Investments in the V4 Countries
by Monika Hadaś-Dyduch, Blandyna Puszer, Maria Czech and Janusz Cichy
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12188; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912188 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2410
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to characterise the green bond market in the Visegrad Group of countries (V4) and to identify the determinants and benefits of issuing green bonds. The specific objective is a spatial–temporal analysis of the green bond yield in [...] Read more.
The aim of this paper is to characterise the green bond market in the Visegrad Group of countries (V4) and to identify the determinants and benefits of issuing green bonds. The specific objective is a spatial–temporal analysis of the green bond yield in V4 countries. The following research methods were used in the paper: a source literature analysis and report analysis, statistical data analysis (from international financial markets), and the Dynamic Time Warping method (DTW). DTW comprises a class of algorithms that are used to compare both equal and unequal time series. The DTW method allows the smallest distance between two time series of different lengths to be found while allowing for the transformation over time of both series. As the method is highly efficient, it is used to provide a thorough spatial–temporal analysis of green bonds. The research process confirmed that green bonds are an instrument with potential in the global debt market. Among the most important stimulants for the issuance of green government bonds are capital mobilisation, the development of the green financial market, investor demand, and reputational benefits. Full article
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