As a new type of economic format, digital economy has three major characteristics: technical, innovative, energy-saving and environmentally friendly. Acting on various sectors of the national economy, it is beneficial for improving carbon emission efficiency and is of great significance for achieving China\'s two major goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Firstly, theoretical analysis of the impact mechanism of digital economy on carbon emission efficiency, proposing research hypotheses on the direct effect, mediating effect, and spatial effect of digital economy on carbon emission efficiency. Secondly, based on panel data from 279 cities in China from 2011 to 2020, the econometric models are constructed to empirically analyze the direct, mediating, and spatial effects of digital economy on carbon emission efficiency. The results show that: 1) Digital economy can improve carbon emission efficiency; 2) The impact of digital economy on carbon emission efficiency has a \"U\"-shaped relationship, which is consistent with the \"Environmental Kuznets Curve\" hypothesis; 3) The impacts of digital economy on carbon emission efficiency exist in urban heterogeneity, specifically manifested as regional heterogeneity and urban scale heterogeneity; 4) Technological innovation is an important mediator for improving carbon emission efficiency in digital economy, and promoting technological innovation in digital economy can improve carbon emission efficiency; 5) Digital economy has spatial effect on carbon emission efficiency, which can improve the carbon emission efficiency of neighboring cities. Finally, based on the above results, suggestions are proposed from three aspects: promoting important industries and key areas for deep cultivation of carbon emission in digital economy, emphasizing regional balance in the development of digital economy, and strengthening regional cooperation in the development of digital economy, in order to continue to play a positive role in improving carbon emission efficiency through digital economy.

UNASSIGNED: China is a large agricultural nation with the majority of the population residing in rural areas. The allocation of health resources in rural areas significantly affects the basic rights to life and health for rural residents. Despite the progress made by the Chinese government in improving rural healthcare, there is still room for improvement. This study aims to assess the spatial spillover effects of rural health resource allocation efficiency in China, particularly focusing on township health centers (THCs), and examine the factors influencing this efficiency to provide recommendations to optimize the allocation of health resources in rural China.
UNASSIGNED: This study analyzed health resource allocation efficiency in Chinese rural areas from 2012 to 2021 by using the super-efficiency SBM model and the global Malmquist model. Additionally, the spatial auto-correlation of THC health resource allocation efficiency was verified through Moran test, and three spatial econometric models were constructed to further analyze the factors influencing efficiency.
UNASSIGNED: The key findings are: firstly, the average efficiency of health resource allocation in THCs was 0.676, suggesting a generally inefficient allocation of health resources over the decade. Secondly, the average Malmquist productivity index of THCs was 0.968, indicating a downward trend in efficiency with both non-scale and non-technical efficient features. Thirdly, Moran\'s Index analysis revealed that efficiency has a significant spatial auto-correlation and most provinces\' values are located in the spatial agglomeration quadrant. Fourthly, the SDM model identified several factors that impact THC health resource allocation efficiency to varying degrees, including the efficiency of total health resource allocation, population density, PGDP, urban unemployment rate, per capita disposable income, per capita healthcare expenditure ratio, public health budget, and passenger traffic volume.
UNASSIGNED: To enhance the efficiency of THC healthcare resource allocation in China, the government should not only manage the investment of health resources to align with the actual demand for health services but also make use of the spatial spillover effect of efficiency. This involves focusing on factors such as total healthcare resource allocation efficiency, population density, etc. to effectively enhance the efficiency of health resource allocation and ensure the health of rural residents.

Drawing upon data from the 2018 CHARLS, this paper utilizes MEPI and a 10% threshold indicator to, respectively, assess the energy poverty (EP) status among middle-aged and older adults in China, focusing on the unavailability and unaffordability of energy services. Additionally, an econometric model is constructed to investigate the effects of EP on the health and welfare of middle-aged and older adults. Regression results indicate that EP exerts a significant negative impact on the health and welfare of middle-aged and older adults. This conclusion remains robust after conducting endogeneity and robustness tests, demonstrating its validity. Finally, based on the calculation results, we propose relevant policy recommendations including enhancing energy services for older adults in rural areas, integrating household energy alternatives with targeted poverty alleviation, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and conducting energy education activities to alleviate EP and improve the quality of life of middle-aged and older adults.

The global population influx during the COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to public health, making the prevention and control of infectious diseases a pressing concern. This paper aims to examine the impact of population influx on the spread of infectious diseases, with a specific emphasis on the mediating role of air pollution in this process. A theoretical analysis is conducted to explore the relationship between population influx, air pollution, and infectious diseases. Additionally, we establish a series of econometric models and employ various empirical tests and analytical techniques, including mediation effect test, threshold effect test, and systematic GMM test, to evaluate our hypotheses. The results indicate that: (1) Population influx directly and indirectly impacts infectious diseases. Specifically, population influx not only directly elevates the risk of infectious diseases, but also indirectly increases the incidence rate of infectious diseases by intensifying air pollution. (2) The impact of population inflow on infectious diseases exhibits regional heterogeneity. Compared to central and western China, the eastern regions exhibit a significantly higher risk of infectious diseases, exceeding the national average. (3) External factors influence the relationship between population influx and infectious diseases differently. Personal income and medical resources both help mitigate the risk of infectious diseases due to population influx, with medical resources having a more substantial effect. Contrary to expectations, abundant educational resources have not reduced the risk, instead, they have exacerbated the risk associated with population influx. This paper provides a scientific basis for formulating effective strategies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Despite the abundance of research on reducing carbon emissions, there is a significant gap in understanding the influence of macroeconomic factors on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a spatial-structural perspective. This study aims to contribute to the literature by investigating the impact of macroeconomic factors on carbon dioxide emissions in six East African countries between 1989 and 2020. Using spatial econometric panel models, the study analyzed spatial dependence among the variables. The empirical findings indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and electricity consumption have positive direct and indirect effects on carbon emissions, while fuel prices and exports have negative direct effects, but positive spillover effects on neighboring countries. Imports have a positive impact on local economies, but negative spillover effects. Additionally, the urban population has no significant impact on the environment. These findings provide important policy implications for optimizing spatial growth patterns and achieving a low-carbon economy in East African countries.

UNASSIGNED: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of budesonide/formoterol reliever and maintenance therapy compared with salmeterol/fluticasone plus salbutamol as reliever therapy for asthma patients ≥12 years from the societal perspective in China.
UNASSIGNED: A Markov model was developed with three health states (non-exacerbation, exacerbation, and death) with a lifetime horizon. The exacerbation rates were obtained from a prospective cohort study conducted in Chinese asthma patients. Healthcare resources utilization data were estimated based on current clinical asthma management guidelines. Asthma-related mortality, cost input and utility values were derived from public database and literature. Model robustness was assessed with one-way sensitivity and probabilistic sensitivity analyses.
UNASSIGNED: Compared with salmeterol/fluticasone plus salbutamol, budesonide/formoterol reliever and maintenance therapy led to fewer exacerbation events (13.6 vs. 15.9) and 0.0077 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain at an additional cost of ¥196.38 over lifetime. The base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was ¥25,409.98 per QALY gained. The variables that had most impact on the model output included drug costs and medication adherence. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of ¥257,094/QALY (3 times of gross domestic product per capita in China in 2022), the probability of budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy being cost-effective versus salmeterol/fluticasone plus as-needed salbutamol was 83.00%.
UNASSIGNED: From the societal perspective, budesonide/formoterol reliever and maintenance therapy is likely to be a cost-effective option compared with salmeterol/fluticasone plus as-needed salbutamol for Chinese asthma patients ≥12 years.

Sustainable development and raising the domestic value-added rate of exports (DVARE) have become essential priorities in the pursuit of high-quality economic growth. An econometric spatial model is developed in this research using data on Chinese enterprises spanning 2008 to 2019. According to a study, exports\' domestic value-added rate (DVAR) can be successfully increased using environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Spatial spillover analysis demonstrates that adopting ESG practices boosts export DVAR both within and between regions. According to heterogeneity analysis, the sample\'s overall increase in DVARE as a result of ESG practices is mostly attributable to the mix and processing trade organizations, the eastern area, and large firms. An examination of the underlying mechanisms shows that businesses that implement advanced technologies are able to reinforce the favorable impact of ESG practices on DVARE. This article gives evidence from real-world studies that show how ESG practices help boost Chinese exports and advance sustainable development. The findings hold significant implications for other developing nations as they make the transition towards a pattern of economic growth.

In order to optimize the Chinese medical and health system and improve people\'s health level, the SFA Malmquist model, the spatial econometric model, and the standard deviation ellipse method were used to measure the efficiency of medical and health services in China\'s 31 provinces between 2010 and 2020. Study results indicated that the average efficiency value of the 31 provinces generally exceeded 0.8. Specifically, the average efficiency values in the eastern and central regions increased from 0.852 to 0.875 and from 0.858 to 0.88, respectively. In the western and northeastern regions, these values rose from 0.804 to 0.835 and from 0.827 to 0.854, respectively. From the perspective of spatial distribution, there were high-high and low-low clusters in most provinces with significant spatial dependence among them. This analysis reveals that medical and health services efficiency in China demonstrates a spatial pattern extending from northeast to southwest.

UNASSIGNED: Healthcare resources are necessary for individuals to maintain their health. The Chinese government has implemented policies to optimize the allocation of healthcare resources and achieve the goal of equality in healthcare for the Chinese people since the implementation of the new medical reform in 2009. Given that no study has investigated regional differences from the perspective of healthcare resource agglomeration, this study aimed to investigate China\'s healthcare agglomeration from 2009 to 2017 in China and identify its determinants to provide theoretical evidence for the government to develop and implement scientific and rational healthcare policies.
UNASSIGNED: The study was conducted using 2009-2017 data to analyze health-resource agglomeration on institutions, beds, and workforce in China. An agglomeration index was applied to evaluate the degree of regional differences in healthcare resource allocation, and spatial econometric models were constructed to identify determinants of the spatial agglomeration of healthcare resources.
UNASSIGNED: From 2009 to 2017, all the agglomeration indexes of healthcare exhibited a downward trend except for the number of institutions in China. Population density (PD), government health expenditures (GHE), urban resident\'s disposable income (URDI), geographical location (GL), and urbanization level (UL) all had positive significant effects on the agglomeration of beds, whereas both per capita health expenditures (PCHE), number of college students (NCS), and maternal mortality rate (MMR) had significant negative effects on the agglomeration of institutions, beds, and the workforce. In addition, population density (PD) and per capita gross domestic product (PCGDP) in one province had negative spatial spillover effects on the agglomeration of beds and the workforce in neighboring provinces. However, MMR had a positive spatial spillover effect on the agglomeration of beds and the workforce in those regions.
UNASSIGNED: The agglomeration of healthcare resources was observed to remain at an ideal level in China from 2009 to 2017. According to the significant determinants, some corresponding targeted measures for the Chinese government and other developing countries should be fully developed to balance regional disparities in the agglomeration of healthcare resources across administrative regions.

BACKGROUND: Medical service efficiency is an important indicator for measuring the equity of medical services. Therefore, this study primarily focuses on investigating the spatiotemporal domain to explore both spatial and temporal characteristics, as well as influencing factors that affect medical service efficiency across diverse provinces in China.
METHODS: The super Epsilon-based Measure (EBM) unexpected model has previously been utilized to quantify energy eco-efficiency, carbon emission efficiency, and green development efficiency. However, limited studies have applied this method to assess the efficiency of healthcare services. Therefore, this study investigates the application of the super-EBM-unexpected model in evaluating medical service efficiency, and further integrates spatial econometric models to explore the influencing factors of medical service efficiency and aims to identify potential avenues for improvement.
RESULTS: The average efficiency of medical services in the 31 provinces of China ranges from 0.6 to 0.7, indicating predominantly low efficiency values. However, economically developed coastal areas exhibit relatively high efficiency levels above 1. Conversely, regions with relatively lower levels of economic development demonstrate lower efficiency rates at approximately 0.3. Evidently, substantial regional disparities exist. For the influencing factors, the enhancement of residents\' living standards can effectively foster the medical service efficiency, while residential living standards of nearby areas can also exert an impact in this region. The influence of educational attainment on medical service efficiency exhibits a significant inhibitory effect.
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of China\'s 31 provinces exhibit suboptimal medical service efficiency, with notable regional disparities. Future policy initiatives should be tailored to address the unique challenges faced by regions with lower levels of economic development, prioritizing enhancements in both the efficacy and quality of their healthcare systems.