Efficient allocation of coal de-capacity quota among Chinese provinces:a zero-sum gains data envelopment model

An efficient coal de-capacity quota allocation scheme is key for accelerating China's coal supplyside structure reform.This paper allocates the coal de-capacity quota from the perspective of efficiency to seek the optimal capacity allocation in each Chinese province.First,we estimate the coal capacity of 24 coal-producing provinces based on boundary production function model.According to the actual coal overcapacity in each province,we initially allocate the coal decapacity quota of reducing 0.8 billion tons among them.Then,we optimize the initial allocation plan by using the zero-sum gains data envelopment model(ZSG-DEA)considering backward coal capacity,coal economic output,and coal resource endowment of each province.The results indicate that:First,there is coal overcapacity all over China,and there are obvious differences among the provinces.Second,the optimal allocation results show that the large coal producing provinces,including Shanxi,Inter Mongolia,Shaanxi,etc.,need to undertake most of the coal decapacity tasks,while the old coal producing provinces in northeast and west China should undertake a heavier burden of coal de-capacity.Third,the“one-size fits-all”approach burdens the small coal producing provinces with reducing coal capacity,leading to a general low enthusiasm for coal de-capacity in these regions.

Benchmark Dose Estimation for Cadmium-Induced Renal Effects Based on a Large Sample Population from Five Chinese Provinces

A survey involving 6103 participants from five Chinese provinces was conducted to evaluate the threshold value of urinary cadmium （UCd） for renal dysfunction as benchmark dose low （BMDL）. The urinary N-acetyl-13-D-glucosaminidase （UNAG） was chosen as an effect biomarker. The UCd BMDLs for UNAG ranged from 2.18μg/g creatinine （cr） to 4.26μg/g cr in the populations of different provinces. The selection of the sample population and area affect the evaluation of the BMDL. The reference level of UCd for renal effects was further evaluated based on the data of all 6103 subjects. With benchmark responses （BMR） of 10%/5%, the overall UCd BMDLs for males in the total population were 3.73/2.08 μg/g cr. The BMD was slightly lower in females, thereby indicating that females may be relatively more sensitive to Cd exposure than are males.

Uncovering the coupling effect with energy-related carbon emissions and human development variety in Chinese provinces

Lessening energy-related carbon emissions has become a crucial measure to achieve Chinese carbon neutrality.This study is the first to construct a Difference in Carbon pressures-adjusted Human Development Index(DCHDI)model for the purpose of exploring the coupling effect between carbon emissions and human development variety from 2000 to 2019 in Chinese provinces.We demonstrate the following.(1)The total energy-related carbon footprint of 30 provinces in China reached 10.2 billion tons in 2019,with an average annual growth rate of 6.93% over the past two decades;and the provinces with the highest carbon emissions per capita are InnerMongolia,Ningxia,and Shanxi.(2)At the provincial level,we observed that the Human Development Index(HDI),which includes life expectancy,education,and income,has been rising,while Beijing,Shanghai,and Tianjin entered the super-high HDI level before 2008.(3)The entire coupling effect of 30 Chinese provinces has been broadly fortified in the last 20 years,but the growth rate of DCHDI values in 2011-2019 has slowed down compared with that in 2000-2010;the clustering phenomenon demonstrated that this discovery is associated with historical peaks in total carbon emissions.(4)The co-ordination degree of carbon emissions per capita and HDI was verified,and 96% of the data points were found in the range of super high coupling coordination degree.Overall,this study provides the government with worthwhile guidance for decision-making and carbon reduction strategies for other countries struggling to advance human sustainable development.

Freedom of Religious Beliefs as Seen in a Chinese Province

In recent years, the Chinese Government has been time and again accused, by those in the West whoare either hostile towards the country or ignorant of its realities, of acting in violation of the right of its citizens toreligious beliefs. There is the allegation that 'official respect for religious freedom in China has diminished.'To find out the truth, the China Society for Human Right Studies (CSHRS) organized a study tour of Hebei Province,north China, the very first of its kind since the society came into being ten years ago. The group, headed by Zhou Jue,president of the CSHRS, comprised some of the most prominent experts on human rights and on international laws.The study tour, from September 21 to 27, 2003, covered all the religions practiced in China—Buddhism, Taoism,Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism, with Catholicism as the focus.

The spatial econometric analysis of the impact of internet on provincial innovation in China

Researches in the impact of the information technology on R&D activities have been noticed since this century to provide a foundation for the relationship between information technology and R&D activities.Using methods of spatial econometrics,this paper examines the impact of Internet on innovation and its spatial spillovers between Chinese provinces over 2001-2007.This paper find that Internet plays an important role in innovative activities,and spatial spillovers of the provinces to its neighbors are positive but weak when spatial effect of endogenous spatial lag variable is taken into consideration.