Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science最新文献

This study aimed to assess urban growth in the Kamrup Metropolitan District by utilizing geospatial techniques. Additionally, it examined the alignment of observed urban growth patterns in the region with the diffusion-coalescence hypothesis and three-growth-mode theory. To analyze these dynamics, it is essential to assess how land is utilized. Therefore, this study classified land use and land cover, then evaluated urban landscape dynamics through the zone-wise distribution of built-up areas, and computed Shannon’s entropy alongside landscape metrics such as Number of Patches (NP), Largest Patch Index (LPI), Edge Density (ED), Mean Euclidean Nearest Neighbor Distance (ENN_MN), Contagion (CONTAG), and Shannon’s Diversity Index (SHDI). Furthermore, we delineated urban growth typologies using the Landscape Expansion Index (LEI) and compared the results of each technique with the established urban growth theories. Results indicated that the built-up area increased from 40.97 km² in 1990 to 183.86 km² by 2024, with burgeoning sprawl predominantly occurring in peripheral buffer zones further away from the urban core. This revealed a dual growth trajectory: the urban core demonstrated coalescence through infilling, while peripheral regions experienced urban sprawl, marked by increased dispersion and outlying growth as indicated by a Shannon entropy value exceeding 0.5. Landscape metrics further elucidated these dynamics with increases in ENN_MN and LPI reflecting clustering in core areas, whereas increases in NP, LPI, ED, SHDI, and decreased in CONTAG suggesting dispersion in peripheral areas. Thus, diffusion and coalescence occurred simultaneously. These results provide empirical insights into urban growth patterns to aid policymakers in urban planning.

Economic policies are designed to address challenges in the economic environment and mitigate future associated risks and uncertainties. The present study addressed the impact of policy uncertainties such as climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on price inflation in India. The data were sourced from the Reserve Bank of India and Policy Uncertainty databases from April 2004 to March 2024. Descriptive statistics and stationarity tests were conducted to analyze the characteristics of the variables. Johansen’s cointegration test assessed the long-term relationships among the regressors. The vector error correction model (VECM) and impulse response function (IRF) were used to evaluate long-run equilibrium dynamics and the responsiveness of inflation to policy uncertainties. The empirical outcomes specified a significant relationship between inflation and economic policy uncertainty, while climate policy uncertainty exhibited an insignificant positive effect on inflation. These findings suggest that policy uncertainties influence inflation and broader economic stability. The study emphasizes the importance of formulating coherent and stable economic policies to mitigate inflationary pressures and foster economic resilience.

This study examines the impacts of cross-border shopping and e-commerce on local consumption tax revenues in Japanese municipalities. Employing fixed-effects regression models and instrumental variable (IV) techniques, the analysis finds that cross-border consumption is significantly associated with a reduction in municipal tax revenues: a 10% increase in cross-border consumption is linked to a 0.3–0.5% decrease in per capita tax revenue, while the overall impact of e-commerce appears to be limited. Of the two policy reforms aimed at mitigating the effects of cross-border consumption and e-commerce, the first appears to have had a measurable impact.

Ensuring reliable and sustainable electricity access in remote rural communities remains a significant challenge, particularly in regions like Sarawak, Malaysia, where grid extension is often economically unfeasible due to difficult terrain and low population density. This study developed and optimized a hybrid PV/Hydro/DG/Battery energy system as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution for rural electrification. Using HOMER software, the research evaluated multiple system configurations based on technical, economic, and environmental criteria to determine the most optimal setup. The results indicate that the PV/Hydro/DG/Battery system achieved an 86.7% renewable fraction, with a net present cost (NPC) of $43,688.91 and a cost of energy (COE) of $0.849/kWh, making it financially viable. The system significantly reduced diesel consumption to 2283 L/year, leading to an 87.37% reduction in carbon emissions compared to standalone diesel generators. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis revealed that streamflow variations have the greatest impact on system performance, requiring a minimum of 28.57 L/s for moderate loads and 34.07 L/s for higher loads to maintain cost efficiency and reliability. This research provides a scalable and replicable framework for off-grid electrification, offering valuable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and researchers aiming to develop sustainable rural energy solutions in Sarawak.

Intelligent transformation is crucial for driving economic development. Since the advent of Industry 4.0, China’s intelligent transformation has advanced rapidly, drawing attention to its impacts on economic resilience. What are the heterogeneities in the impacts at different times and in different cities? What factors influence its effects? To address these questions, based on the panel data set of prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2019, we conducted analyses using the Vertical and Horizontal Scatter Degree (VHSD) method, the Bartik IV method, the Panel Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (PGTWR) model, and the correlation coefficient method, and revealed the following key findings: (1) during the study period, both intelligent transformation and economic resilience of Chinese cities increased, displaying a spatial pattern of “East high-West low”; (2) intelligent transformation improved economic resilience, its effect was weaker during the crisis period and showed a fluctuating yet rise during the recovery period; (3) the resilience effect of intelligent transformation showed a spatial pattern, decreasing from “Southeast to Northwest”. In most cities, the effect size exhibited diminishing marginal effects; (4) the rationalization of industrial structure and increased investments in science and technology directly contributed to economic resilience, and also amplified the effect of intelligent transformation. These findings contribute to the understanding of the resilience effects of intelligent transformation and provide references for local governments to formulate differentiated strategies for enhancing economic resilience. In addition, the research framework of this paper also offers referable research ideas for other countries to conduct studies on the economic resilience effects of intelligent transformation.

This study examines the intricate relationships between technological innovation, financial inclusion and income inequality (GINI) in BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) using advanced econometric techniques, including structural equation modeling and instrumental variable estimation. The findings exhibit that technological innovation, measured by research and development (R&D) expenditures, researcher density (RM), and mobile cellular subscriptions (MCS), significantly promotes financial inclusion with heterogeneous effects. While financial inclusion emerged as an essential channel for reducing income inequality, the direct impact of technological innovation on inequality presents a nuanced dynamic. Specifically, RM and MCS contribute to narrowing income disparities, whereas R&D reveals a counterintuitive positive relationship with GINI, indicating that knowledge-intensive innovations may disproportionately benefit higher-income groups. Macroeconomic and institutional factors, including trade openness, governance quality and inflation further shaped financial inclusion and inequality outcomes. Robustness checks, including two-stage least squares and dynamic panel estimations confirmed the causal validity of these relationships for mitigating endogeneity concerns. The findings highlight an imperative for policymakers to ensure equitable access to financial technologies by enhancing digital literacy, strengthening financial infrastructure and fostering inclusive regulatory frameworks. Future research should investigate additional moderating variables, such as education and social protection policies, and extend the analysis beyond BRICS economies to enhance the generalizability of the results.

In situ urbanization is a rural development model in which the essential rural characteristics are maintained while living standards are raised to urban levels. Few studies determined the complex factors influencing in situ urbanization, despite its importance for rural development, in developing Central Asian Countries such as Kazakhstan. The objective of this study was to examine evidence of in situ urbanization and investigate its driving factors in northern rural Zerendy, Kazakhstan. Annual data from 22 rural settlements between 2015 and 2022, including 79 villages in the Zerendy District, one of the largest getaways in the Akmola Region, were used. The results of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and structural models supported the relevance of productivity, amenities and friction as constructs associated with in situ urbanization patterns in the area. Among the three factors, amenities demonstrated the strongest association with in situ urbanization processes. Productivity and friction constructs yielded only statistically insignificant path coefficients. These findings imply that improving the availability of rural amenities can be a useful policy strategy to aid a country’s rural development.

This study examined the impacts of bank loan performance, financial stability and risk factors on achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in South and Southeast Asia from 2009 to 2023 using advanced econometric methods, including Instrumental Variables Generalized Method of Moments (IV-GMM) and Panel Quantile Regression. The analysis incorporates data from 14 countries and evaluates six key banking indicators: Bank Non-Performing Loans to Gross Loans (BNPLGL), Bank Credit to Bank Deposits (BCBD), Bank Z-Score (BZS), Liquid Assets to Deposits and Short-Term Funding (LADSTF), Provisions to Non-Performing Loans (PNPL), and Bank Capital to Total Assets (BCTA). The IV-GMM results revealed significant regional differences. In South Asia, BZS (coefficient: 0.101, p < 0.001), BCBD (0.096, p = 0.005), and LADSTF (0.067, p < 0.001) showed strong positive relationships with SDG progress, highlighting the critical role of financial stability and liquidity in fostering sustainable development. Conversely, in Southeast Asia, results were more varied, BCBD (0.027, p < 0.001) positively contributing to SDGs while BNPLGL (− 0.017, p = 0.314) and BZS (− 0.002, p = 0.867) exhibiting weak or negligible effects. Panel Quantile Regression underscored the importance of financial stability and risk management, particularly in low-performing countries, where BZS and BNPLGL significantly drove SDG progress. SDG-specific analysis highlighted banking contributions to poverty reduction (SDG1), health improvements (SDG3) and sustainable cities (SDG11), alongside challenges in climate action (SDG13) and biodiversity conservation (SDG15). The findings emphasize the need for region-specific banking reforms to strengthen financial stability, improve credit quality and align banking practices with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Creative industries of Thailand have developed substantially over recent decades. However, challenges persist in quantifying their contributions to regional economies due to data limitations and issues with industrial classification. This study addressed these challenges by introducing tailored creative city indicators and analyzing the impacts of different creative city dimensions—cultural vibrancy, the creative economy, and the enabling environment—on the provincial economic output of Thailand. Using empirical data from 2015 to 2021, the study employed a panel fixed-effects model with gross regional and provincial product (GPP) as the primary variable. The findings revealed that, while the creative economy and enabling environment significantly boosted economic output across provinces, cultural vibrancy did not have the expected positive effect. In fact, provinces with high cultural heritage and venues often experienced lower economic outputs, particularly in smaller regions, suggesting that cultural assets alone may not drive economic growth without supporting infrastructure and industry. This study highlights the need for a comprehensive policy approach that integrates culture with economic participation and infrastructure to fully realize the economic potential of creative cities in Thailand.

Japan has long provided funding to Indonesia, supporting its economic growth through infrastructure investment, including energy-related ones. As representative projects, this study examined the efficiency of past investments in coal-fired and geothermal power plants. Over the past decade, these two technologies have benefitted the most from Japanese public funding. Employing the input–output analysis method, this study evaluated two model projects from the perspectives of both the host and the financing countries. We integrated economic effects across sectors and the associated value-chain impacts of climate change into the cost–benefit analysis framework. The results highlighted that these projects may not necessarily represent efficient resource allocation. Specifically, coal projects were not justified on a cost–benefit basis because of their high climate costs and the low value-added rate of the Indonesian electricity sector. We also found that geothermal projects may be barely viable for Indonesia if the electricity sales price is not sufficiently high. However, the project was justified when aggregated with the net benefit accrued in Japan. Japan substantially benefitted from the export of coal-fired and geothermal power plant equipment. This yielded a benefit-to-cost ratio of over 3.0 for Japan for both projects. These findings underscore the importance of conducting comprehensive overseas project assessments that integrate climate change impacts and economic effects on both host and financing countries. Our analysis framework is also relevant to evaluating recent energy transition projects and can highlight the resource-efficiency perspective in developing Asia and Japan.