Impact of taxes on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:Evidence from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD)countries

Multiple ecological and socioeconomic problems have occurred worldwide,raising the awareness of sustainability.This study aims to examine the impact of taxes on Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)in the context of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)countries.This research used effective average tax(EAT),tax on personal income(TPI),tax on corporate profits(TCP),and tax on goods and services(TGS)as the variables of taxes,and employed secondary data from 38 OECD countries covering 2000–2021.The study also used Breusch-Pagan Lagrange Multiplier(LM),Pesaran Scaled LM,Bias-Corrected Scaled LM,and Pesaran Cross-sectional dependence(CSD)tests to analyze the existence of crosssectional dependency.Then,we established the stationarity of variables through second-generation panel unit root tests(Cross-sectional Augmented Dickey-Fuller(CADF)and Cross-sectional Im,Pesaran,and Shin(CIPS)),and confirmed the long-run cointegration of the variables by using secondgeneration panel cointegration test(Westerlund cointegration test).The results showed that EAT,TPI,TCP,and TGS are positively associated with SDGs.However,the change in TPI has a smaller effect on SDGs than the change in EAT or TCP or TGS.The result of panel causality indicated that EAT,TPI,and TGS have a unidirectional causal relationship with SDGs.The study also found that TCP has a bi-directional causal relationship with SDGs.Moreover,the finding indicated that the OECD countries need to focus on tax policies to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.This study is based on the theory of optimal taxation(TOT),which suggests that tax systems should be designed to maximize social welfare.Finally,we suggests the importance of taking a comprehensive approach for the managers and policy-makers when analyzing the impact of taxes on SDGs.

Mutual Understanding Mutual Action Cooperation and Development——First Annual Meeting of China Villa Forum

Through ten years’ rising and fallingdevelopment, Chinese villa industry hasentered into a new stage of development. Atpresent, the two favorable conditions ofWTO entry and 2008 Olympics in Beijingare energetically spurring China’s economicdevelopment. The development enterprises,main body of real estate market, have had akeen sense of smelling the commercialopportunities. Since 2001, the items ofconstructing villas have been established orstarted again in Beijing, Shanghai,Guangzhou and other large cities. Someinstitutions predicted boldly, from 2002

Strengthening People-to-people Bond to Pursue Cooperation and Development——Some highlights of a CPAPD delegation's Visits to Poland, Latvia and Hungary

In the beautiful golden autumn,at the invitation of Polish Senate,Latvian Parliament and the National Assembly of Hungary,Ma Biao,Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC)and Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament(CPAPD)headed a CPAPD delegation on a good-will visit

Evolutionary process and development implications of traditional trade routes in the Himalayan region

Traditional trade routes that penetrate the natural barrier of the Himalayas are critical for connecting major Chinese and South Asian markets.Research on these trade routes can contribute significantly to facilitating the construction of the South Asian Corridor and enhancing trans-Himalayan connectivity.Combining historical literature,field surveys,and geographic information system(GIS)techniques,this study examined the spatial distribution characteristics and evolution process of the routes,focusing on transverse valleys of the Himalayan arc.The key findings were as follows.First,there are 21 traditional trade routes traversing the Himalayan region:six Sino-Nepalese routes,four Sino-Bhutanese routes,and eleven Sino-Indian routes.Second,the evolution of traditional trade routes has entailed five distinct phases:an incipient period(pre-7th century),formation(7th century-842 AD),development(842-1959),decline(1959-1962)and recovery(1962-present).Third,the incipient and formative developmental phases were prompted by the spread of Buddhism and the exchange of goods.The stability of local governments in Tibet and Central China and favourable border trade policies along with Britain’s colonial expansion and commercial interests stimulated further development of traditional trade routes.However,India’s strategic miscalculation and“Forward Policy”instigated the decline phase,while the demands of regional cooperation and development are currently the key drivers of the restoration and construction phase.Finally,to shelve disputes,promote cooperation and development,and enhance political mutual trust,governments should recover and construct traditional trade routes by replanning and constructing border trade markets,expanding border trade,developing pilgrimage and tourism,and strengthening cross-border cooperative resear h under global climate change.