On transportation, economic agglomeration, and CO2 emissions in China, 2003-2017.

This study analyzes the effects of transportation infrastructure on carbon emissions (CE) based on the level of urban economic agglomeration. For this purpose, 281 Chinese cities are considered during the period 2003-2017. A Moran's I index is used to assess the spatial distribution characteristics of transportation infrastructure and CE. In addition, a spatial Durbin model is employed to explore the spatial spillover effect of transportation infrastructure on CE. Furthermore, economic agglomeration is considered as a crucial transmission mechanism. The empirical results show that (1) a significant spatial autocorrelation exists between transportation infrastructure and CE. (2) Transportation infrastructure significantly aggravates CE, with the "neighboring effect" being surprisingly more potent than the "local effect." (3) Economic agglomeration is a valid transmission channel through which transportation infrastructure affects CE, the intensity of which varies with the level of economic agglomeration. Our recommendation is that policy-makers should pay attention to the development of local transportation, as well as their neighboring cities, and should accelerate the advancement of green transportation.

The role of high-speed rail on green total factor productivity: evidence from Chinese cities.

Compared with other transportation facilities, high-speed rail (HSR) may be more beneficial to "green development." Based on a sample of 276 cities in China over 2005-2019, this study calculates the actual and change values of green total factor productivity (GTFP) with the stochastic frontier approach (SFA) and investigates the effect of HSR on GTFP using the time-varying difference-in-difference model and propensity score matching analysis. Our research results show a significantly positive effect of HSR on GTFP through reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution, as well as improving technological innovation. HSR-connected cities are found to have outperformed non-HSR-connected cities by 12.8% regarding GTFP in the sample period, and the effect is stronger for the eastern region and/or the central cities compared with the rest of the country. The research findings of this paper have important policy implications regarding China's HSR development and its impact on economic growth as well as the natural environment.

On COVID-19 pandemic and China's foreign trade.

In this study, we analyse China's foreign trade performance under the global COVID-19 pandemic using the monthly data in 2019-2021. This paper finds that: (1) China's exports to its major trading partners recover and continue to grow in the second half of 2020 and 2021, after falling significantly in the first half of 2020; (2) the mechanical & electrical and the high-tech industries have contributed significantly to the recovery of China's exports; (3) the exports of medical products, furniture and appliances show growth in line with the implementation of quarantine policies; (4) the exports of electronic products and electrical vehicles kept growing both before the outbreak and during the pandemic. It is posited that China should continue to expand trade with emerging markets while maintaining a steady trade volume with the developed economies. We also recommend that China focus its future export development on these industries and products that are growing steadily and have greater potential, including the mechanical & electrical industry, the high-tech industry, electronic products and electrical vehicles.

High Rate of HIV-1 Drug Resistance in Antiretroviral Therapy-Failure Patients in Liaoning Province, China.

This study aimed to monitor the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance and risk factors associated with drug resistance in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-failure individuals in Liaoning Province, China. Plasma samples were collected from HIV-1-positive individuals who experienced ART failure in Liaoning Province between April 2018 and September 2019. Genotype resistance test was performed using an in-house assay on these collected samples. Factors associated with drug resistance were identified by logistic regression analysis. We collected a total of 468 ART-failure individuals, of which 256 were successfully included in the final study. Of these, the most predominant genotype was CRF01_AE, accounting for 77.73%. The resistance rate to any of the three classes of antiretroviral drugs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NNRTIs], nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs], and protease inhibitors [PIs]) was 64.84%. Among 256 ART-failure patients, 62.89% showed drug resistance to NNRTIs, 50.39% to NRTIs, and 3.13% to PIs. G190S (31.25%) and Y181C (25.78%) mutations were the most common NNRTIs resistance mutations. K65R (29.69%), M184V (28.52%) were the most common NRTIs resistance mutations. Factors associated with drug resistance included current ART regimen and viral load. The high drug resistance rate among ART-failure individuals in Liaoning Province needs more attention. Corresponding strategies for the risk factors associated with HIV drug resistance can better control and prevent the prevalence of resistance.

On green credits and carbon productivity in China.

Based on panel data from 30 provinces over the period of 2003-2016, this study uses the spatial econometric model to examine the effect of green credits on carbon productivity. The research findings show that there is a significant positive correlation between green credits and carbon productivity among provinces during this period. Provinces with high levels of carbon productivity (green credits) are also geographically adjacent or economically close to provinces with high levels and vice versa. Regression results of the whole sample show that green credits not only promote carbon productivity, but also have a positive spatial spillover effect. Similar regression results using regional sub-samples indicate that the direct promotion effect and spatial spillover effect of green credits on carbon productivity are more obvious in the central and western regions than in the eastern parts of the country. The research findings have important and relevant policy implications as far as the relationship between green credits and carbon productivity is concerned.

Energy mix, financial development, and carbon emissions in China: a directed technical change perspective.

Based on a two-sector (clean energy and dirty energy) model of directed technical change, we examine the relationship between carbon emissions, clean energy consumption, and financial development in China using the ARDL method. The results show that clean energy consumption reduces carbon emissions effectively but the effect of financial development is opposite, suggesting that financial development increases carbon emissions, contradicting the findings of many existing studies. Then, we decompose financial development on carbon emissions into two different effects: substitution and income effects. The substitution effect reflects more dirty energy consumption as a result of directed technological change promoted by financial development, leading to more carbon emissions. The income effect results in a decline in carbon emissions because financial development enables firms to use more clean energy. The empirical results indicate that the net effect of financial development has caused more carbon emissions and a 1% increase in financial development results in a 0.45-0.79% increase in carbon emissions. The policy implication is also discussed.

On the global COVID-19 pandemic and China's FDI.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has generated serious challenges for the world economy, including cross-border foreign direct investment (FDI). China's inward FDI (IFDI) and outward FDI (OFDI) are also facing unprecedented risks and challenges. This paper first clarifies the timelines of the pandemic evolving in China, the US, and the rest of the world. It then reflects on China's past development process of IFDI and OFDI, noting the growth of IFDI and highlighting the risks and challenges for OFDI during and after the pandemic. Empirical evidence for the impact of COVID-19 on FDI is set out. Policy recommendations are then made regarding China's latest development strategy using the so-called dual circulation to sustain its economic growth with respect to cross-border FDI.