Analysis of Driving Factors of Natural Gas Consumption in China: Based on Regional Integration and LMDI Method

In recent years,China has developed rapidly in terms of natural gas.Driven by regional economic integration,a regional natural gas market composed of neighboring provinces and cities has taken shape gradually,and it tends to grow toward the same direction in policy formulation,resource coordination,facility construction and market expansion.Based on the factors such as geographical location,economic conditions and natural gas consumption,this thesis tends to conduct a horizontal comparative analysis on the economic development conditions,natural gas consumption characteristics and natural gas pipeline network density of the three regions with obvious regional integration feature in China.Then according to LMDI,four core indicators,namely economic growth effect,energy intensity effect,energy structure effect,and substitution effect are selected.The thesis is expected to explore the contribution of different indicators to the growth of natural gas consumption in these three different regions.According to the results,it can be concluded that the driving factors of natural gas consumption differ greatly among regions.Specifically speaking,the more developed the economy is,the greater the contribution of the energy substitution effect to natural gas consumption will be,and the contribution of the economic growth effect to natural gas consumption will be smaller.Despite that the contribution of energy intensity in different regions shows slight difference,the energy structure contributes the least effect,which further explains the current differences in China’s natural gas consumption characteristics and the reasons behind.

Simulated photo-degradation of dissolved organic matter in lakes revealed by three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix with regional integration and parallel factor analysis

Simulated photo-degradation of fluorescent dissolved organic matter(FDOM) in Lake Baihua(BH) and Lake Hongfeng(HF) was investigated with three-dimensional excitationemission matrix(3 DEEM) fluorescence combined with the fluorescence regional integration(FRI),parallel factor(PARAFAC) analysis,and multi-order kinetic models.In the FRI analysis,fulvic-like and humic-like materials were the main constituents for both BH-FDOM and HF-FDOM.Four individual components were identified by use of PARAFAC analysis as humic-like components(C1),fulvic-like components(C2),protein-like components(C3) and unidentified components(C4).The maximum 3 DEEM fluorescence intensity of PARAFAC components C1-C3 decreased by about 60%,70% and 90%,respectively after photo-degradation.The multi-order kinetic model was acceptable to represent the photo-degradation of FDOM with correlation coefficient(Radj2)(0.963-0.998).The photo-degradation rate constants(kn) showed differences of three orders of magnitude,from 1.09 × 10-6 to 4.02 × 10-4 min-1,and half-life of multi-order model(T1/2n)ranged from 5.26 to 64.01 min.The decreased values of fluorescence index(FI) and biogenic index(BI),the fact that of percent fluorescence response parameter of Region I(PⅠ,n) showed the greatest change ratio,followed by percent fluorescence response parameter of Region II(PⅡ,n,while the largest decrease ratio was found for C3 components,and the lowest T1/2n was observed for C3,indicated preferential degradation of protein-like materials/components derived from biological sources during photodegradation.This research on the degradation of FDOM by 3 DEEM/FRI-PARAFAC would be beneficial to understanding the photo-degradation of FD OM in natural environments and accurately predicting the environmental behaviors of contaminants in the presence of FDOM.

North American Free Trade Area and World Economic Regional Integration

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＂Convergence＂ or ＂Divergence＇？ --Rethinking Regional Integration of the Past Two Decades

The European Union （EU）, North American Free Trade Agreement （NAFTA） and Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） are the three biggest regional economic cooperation organizations in the world. What roles have these three organizations played in both domestic development and the evolving global trend of regional integration？ This paper investigates the inequality among these three organizations for regional economic cooperation based on cross-national parallel data from thirty-nine countries over the period 1989-2008. By using the Theil index decomposition, this paper finds that the interregional disparity is the main source of inequality. This paper also finds that intraregional disparity rose significantly from the mid-1990s. ASEAN contributes an equalizing force to the change, while NAFTA contributes a disequalizing force. From the empirical tests based on the Barro non-linear growth regression model, our results show that the whole sample and some subregional samples （ASEAN and EU） support the convergence hypothesis. ASEAN＇s convergence speed is the fastest, which testifies to the fact that the convergence speed of the transition path is faster than the long-term path.

The Inspiration of European Integration to Asia-Pacific Regional Cooperation

The two different developing trends in current Asia are in sharp contrast with each other. One is relying on military means to solve regional conflicts, the other is coordinating and stabilizing inter-state relations through economic integration. The latter is undoubtedly the target to be sought after. Summarizing Europe’s experience is conducive to reaching the goal.

Coordinated development of Yunnan's frontier culture and economy under the regional economic integration pattern

This paper constructs the index system by means of quantitative analysis. We choose the coordination degree of Yunnan province from 2012 to 2015. The regional cultural and economic development in Yunnan's frontier are analyzed so that we can provide the reference for the sustainable development of Yunnan's frontier and realize the coordinated development of culture in Yunnan's frontier and economic system in order. The results show that the culture and economy in Yunnan's frontier are coupled with formation of the coordinated development of culture and economy; economic development is the main reason to promote the coordinated development of culture and economy in Yunnan's frontier, and it contributes to the main force of improving the coordinated development of evolution types; the coordinated development degree of the overall level is low and still in the China's backward level.

Resilience-Oriented Load Restoration Method and Repair Strategies for Regional Integrated Electricity-Natural Gas System

The rising frequency of extreme disaster events seriously threatens the safe and secure operation of the regional integrated electricity-natural gas system(RIENGS).With the growing level of coupling between electric and natural gas systems,it is critical to enhance the load restoration capability of both systems.This paper proposes a coordinated optimization strategy for resilience-enhanced RIENGS load restoration and repair scheduling and transforms it into a mixed integer second-order cone programming(MISOCP)model.The proposed model considers the distribution network reconfiguration and the coordinated repair strategy between the two systems,minimizing the total system load loss cost and repair time.In addition,a bi-directional gas flow model is used to describe the natural gas system,which can provide the RIENGS with more flexibility for load restoration during natural gas system failure.Finally,the effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified by conducting case studies on the test systems RIENGS E13-G7 and RIENGS E123-G20.

Integration Level for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） Economic Community

The time has come for the constitution of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） economic community and many facts have been analyzed regarding this topic. This paper presents the results of the statistical analysis applied to several economic parameters which firstly show how their integration pattern adjusts with a considerable good fitting to the optimum currency area model and to its extended version by Behrens; and secondly how the 10 members of this group are moving at relatively same speed in spite of their differences, that are also inferred for ranging.

The comparative African regional economics of globalization in financial allocation efficiency: the pre-crisis era revisited

This study assesses the role of globalization-fueled regionalization policies on the financial allocation efficiency of four economic and monetary regions in Africa from 1980 to 2008.Banking and financial system efficiency proxies are used as dependent variables and seven bundled and unbundled globalization variables are employed as independent indicators.The bundling is achieved by principal component analysis,while the empirical evidence is based on interactive fixed effects regressions.The findings are as follows.First,financial allocation efficiency is more sensitive to financial openness compared to trade openness and most sensitive to globalization.The relationship between allocation efficiency and globalization-fueled regionalization policies is defined by:(i)a Kuznets or inverted U-shaped curve in the UEMOA and CEMAC zones(evidence of decreasing returns for allocation efficiency from globalization-fueled regionalization)and(ii)a U-shaped relationship overwhelmingly in the COMESA and scantily in the EAC(increasing returns to allocation efficiency due to globalization-fueled regionalization).These relationships are relevant to the specific globalization dynamics within regions.Economic and monetary regions are more prone to surplus liquidity than pure economic regions are.Policy implications and measures for reducing surplus liquidity are also discussed.

South-South Coalitions, Bilateral Agreements, and Regional Coordination： Public Opinion and Brazilian Foreign Policy

Emerging powers suffer the effects from the resource deficits in attempting to project their power globally. The developing nations are faced with difficult choices in determining their resource allocation strategies when compared to the already established powers. This article uses Brazil as a case study to analyze how emerging powers articulate strategies to conduct operations across the distinct areas of the international stage, paying special attention to regional and global arenas. Our interest is to analyze how power projection strategies are articulated and formed. More specifically, our research works to understand how a country compares and relates its regional operations to its global ones.

Pattern of Opening Up,Integration and Reshaping Economic Geography——A New Economic Geography Analysis of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Since the 18 th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,the central government has implemented several regional development plans,including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt,aiming to reshape the economic geography of China.This paper is based on the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt and outlines the pattern of opening up.To analyze the impact of the pattern of opening up on the regional integration of China's economic geography,this paper has developed a new economic geography model comprised of four regions and two countries.From this,it draws some conclusions.First,the change of pattern of opening up will lead to shifting centripetal and centrifugal forces from the international market.The greater the scale of neighboring markets,the stronger the agglomeration force will be; the more product varieties made in neighboring countries,the more potent its dispersion force.Second,developing an inland international trade corridor will decentralize industry distribution and reduce the impact of external market integration on home countries.Third,the inland international trade corridor could alter the effect of domestic market integration on the economic geography.When domestic integration occurs prior to international integration,further integration of a domestic market leads to greater industrial distribution along a bell-shaped curve,which describes economic activities from dispersion to agglomeration to decentralization.Therefore,developing an integrated market system of major countries and opening a corridor between China and Europe is not only the key to reshaping China's economic geography but also the path to solving the problems of the Heihe-Tengchong Line.

Hebei Talents Development Strategy under the Background of Talents Integration in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

As the development of productive forces, the most critical and most active factors in people is the fimdamental driving force of regional economic sustainable development and cooperation has a vital role in regional economic development Only speed up regional economic cooperation and enforce the integration of regional talent development, can the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region achieves rapid development, and become China＇ s third largest economic growth pole, following the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. Based on reviewing the integration process of the integration of regional talent development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebci region, this paper further analyze differences in the economic development status, the level of human capital, wage levels, employment status, and the development of educational science and technology among Hebei Province, Beijing and Tianjin, and concludes talent development strategy for Hebei Province replying the personnel integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei Province.

Regional Oceanic Impact on Circulation and Direct Radiative Effect of Aerosol over East Asia

The Regional Integrated Environmental Model System （RIEMS 2.0） coupled with a chemistry-aerosol model and the Princeton Ocean Model （POM） is employed to simulate regional oceanic impact on atmospheric circulation and the direct radiative effect （DRE） of aerosol over East Asia. The aerosols considered in this study include both major anthropogenic aerosols （e.g., sulfate, black carbon, and organic carbon） and natural aerosols （e.g., soil dust and sea salt）. The RIEMS 2.0 is driven by NCEP/NCAR reanalysis II, and the simulated period is from 1 January to 31 December 2006. The results show the following： （1） The simulated annual mean sea-level pressure by RIEMS 2.0 with POM is lower than without POM over the mainland and higher without POM over the ocean. （2） In summer, the subtropical high simulated by RIEMS 2.0 with POM is stronger and extends further westward, and the continental low is stronger than without POM in summer. （3） The aerosol optical depth （AOD） simulated by RIEMS 2.0 with POM is larger in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River than without POM. （4） The direct radiative effect with POM is stronger than that without POM in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and parts of southern China. Therefore, the authors should take account of the impact of the regional ocean model on studying the direct climate effect ＆aerosols in long term simulation.

Impact of openness, economic policy reform and regional shocks on trade and growth of Thailand： An econometric study

Thailand has currently enhanced and promoted intensive trade and investment liberalization and implemented long-term growth policy according with current regional economic integration, WTO obligations and globalization. Nevertheless, several recent internal and external factors e.g. the massive SARS and avian flu outbreaks, the Indian Ocean tsunami devastation, the Asia financial crisis and domestic policy reforms （ICSEAD, 2006） have also impeded this policy. While the issues are important for Thailand and developing countries in Asia, only limited research has been undertaken to investigate them. The paper conducts a substantive quantitative study to contribute to these trade and development policy issues. A new econometric modelling policy method, namely the generalized gravity theory （Tran Van Hoa, 2004） is used to develop a simple flexible simultaneous-equation econometric model of Thailand＇s openness model with its seven major trade partners （ASEAN-4, Australia, the USA, the EU, China, Japan and India）. Using data from the ICSEAD, the World Development Indicators and the Bank of Thailand databases, the paper reveals efficient and reliable empirical findings on trade-growth causality, trade determination including the impact of shocks and policy reform on trade and growth between Thailand and its major trade partners over the past two decades. The paper also provides evidence on the linkages between trade in goods, FDI and services and regional economic integration for more credible policy implications.

Optimal Scheduling for Flexible Regional Integrated Energy Systemwith Soft Open Point

The Regional Integrated Energy System(RIES)has brought new modes of development,utilization,conversion,storage of energy.The introduction of Soft Open Point(SOP)and the application of Power to Gas(P2G)technology will greatly deepen the coupling of the electricity-gas integrated energy system,improve the flexibility and safety of the operation of the power system,and bring a deal of benefits to the power system.On this background,an optimal dispatch model of RIES combined cold,heat,gas and electricity with SOP is proposed.Firstly,RIES architecture with SOP and P2G is designed and its mathematical model also is built.Secondly,on the basis of considering the optimal scheduling of combined cold,heat,gas and electricity,the optimal scheduling model for RIES was established.After that,the original model is transformed into a mixed-integer second-order cone programming model by using linearization and second-order cone relaxation techniques,and the CPLEX solver is invoked to solve the optimization problem.Finally,the modified IEEE 33-bus systemis used to analyze the benefits of SOP,P2G technology and lithium bromide absorption chillers in reducing systemnetwork loss and cost,as well as improving the system’s ability to absorb wind and solar and operating safety.

Eurasian Integration： Past, Present, and Future

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the post-Soviet area moved fi＇om the periphery of the world economy into a new centre of political and economic influence. Today, the concept of pragmatic （economic） Eurasianism by N. Nazarbayev plays a paramount role in the development of integration processes in Eurasia. One of the newest initiatives of Eurasian integration is the Eurasian Economic Union （EAEU）, which functions today in a five-side format, comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. However, conflict of interests, differential economic development among member states, and institutional problems often complicate the various processes of integration. On the other hand, with measures like harmonizing of national legislations, improved communication between countries at all levels, unification of trade policies, and enhanced control over domestic market in place, the EAEU countries also represent the newest competitive players in the world arena.

Union of South American Nations： Monetary Synchronization and Economic Asymmetries

An analysis of the monetary synchronization of the Union of South American Nations （UNASUR） for the decade 2004 through 2013 has been conducted using the optimum currency area （OCA） theories in order to evaluate the economic integration. By applying Bayoumi and Eichengreen＇s equation, it was found that with a decent adjustment, a high percentage of countries show a tendency to harmonize their currencies in function of the four independent variables： output disturbances, the dissimilarity in exports composition, the trade linkages, and the size of the economies. To extend the model, mobility of labor and level of the integration in good＇s market were added by modifying Behrens＇ proposal, founding that the six variables are indeed related to the exchange rate harmonization at different significant levels, with a considerable moderate fitting. Additionally an analysis of variance （ANOVA） has been considered in order to study the following economic indicators： gross domestic product （GDP）, population, GDP per capita, exports to group vs. total exports, unemployment, and inflation rates so as to visualize the economic asymmetries of the Union, for the same period. Differences were inferred for all of them but not for their annual speed of change. The least significant differences （LSD） provide further results and Duncan＇s multiple range tests lead to defining groups of countries with similar characteristics.

EU＇s Association Agreements ＆ Central America： No Milk Until the Cows Come Home

Why did the European Union （EU） conclude an Association Agreement （A.A）, rather than a free-trade agreement with Central American （CA） countries in 2010？ A CA-EU AA content analysis within the broader EU policy approach towards Latin America suggests it to be （1） the only feasible option for each side at a time of increasing commercial flux; （2） mutually attractive against globalizing threats, thus converting an institutional innovation into a double-edged instrument; and （3） illustrative of the subtle but significant shift of farm-protection demands from endogenous dynamics to exogenous. They carry important implications： （1） empirically： weak CA-EU linkages further dilute West Europe＇s broader Latin ambitions; （2） theoretically： AA analyses better reflect trading realities than pure regional economic integration theories, suggesting the corrosive impact of globalizing forces on regional pursuits; and （3） historically： the continued role of the farm jinx in trade.

The Prospect of Reform in the Post-crisis Euro Zone

Since the foundation of the Euro zone, unbalanced economic development has existed among member states, and was a major cause of the debt crisis, posing various challenges to the EU. In response, the EU has realized the problem. Financial reforms, fiscal reforms and related system reforms are being implemented so as to establish a relatively perfect single currency zone and solve the issue of the unbalanced economic development. However, at present, due to imperfections in theory of the single currency zone and due to political, economic as well as social situations in Europe, there are challenges in the reform of the Euro zone.