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Stakeholder management researchers have recently put a lot of effort into figuring out why organizations facing extensive pressure respond differently to social responsibilities. In particular, ethics researchers believe that senior management must drive corporate social responsibility since their attitudes toward such issues are so important. In line with this sentiment, our study develops a framework of management power, composed of CEOs’ power and the organizations’ power, and explores how managerial power heterogeneity affects the corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of a firm. Using sample data from the largest emerging market—China—for the period 2010–2018, we submit that CEOs with structural power and shareholders with the highest concentration tend to show a lower commitment to CSR activities. On the other hand, we recognize that the ownership, expertise, and prestige power of CEOs’, the supervision, monitoring, and political power of the board can improve a firms’ CSR performance. These results are also validated by using a fixed effect model, two stage least square (2-SLS) regression, and the propensity score matching (PSM) technique. Our results imply that the implementation of social policies fundamentally results not only from powerful CEOs, but also from powerful boards and shareholders. Moreover, our study provides useful implications with regard to the social outcomes of power authorized by CEOs and the organizations.

The gender gap in working conditions has barely improved in South Korea where various measures for gender equality have been in place for a relatively long time. Furthermore, the female employment rate is also the lowest in OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries. This study will evaluate the stratified structure of the labor market to identify the causes and will analyze changes in the gender employment distribution and mobility. This study conducted an empirical analysis of gender distribution and labor mobility in the South Korean labor market, utilizing long-term data (2005–2014) from the supplementary survey by employment type on the Economically Active Population of the Korea National Statistical Office. From the analysis, women showed a relatively smaller increase than men in the primary labor market, classified as the large and standard employment market, in 2014 compared with 2005, but showed a relatively greater increase than men in the secondary labor market, comprising the small–medium and non-standard employment market. Thus, gender skewness in employment distribution was greater in the stratified labor market. On the other hand, the non-economically active population more than doubled for women compared to men. From the analysis of labor mobility by gender, a higher proportion of women were employed in the peripheral labor market than in the core labor market and women were also more likely to be employed in the relatively weak peripheral labor market. These results imply that dichotomous gender equality policies for resolving the gender gap have a certain limitation in the stratified labor market. Thus, what is needed is a holistic approach that takes into account the labor market structure.

Sustainability is a global issue and its enhancement through modern forms of procurements, such as public-private partnership (PPP), has become topical considering the huge impact of PPP activities on society, the economy, and the environment. However, one way of promoting sustainability thorough PPPs is the adoption of social responsibility (SR) initiatives/factors. This paper aims to empirically investigate the SR factors in PPPs through a comparative study between China and Ghana. An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted in both China and Ghana. Further, the mean score ranking, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data analysis. Results show that SR factors related to the economic efficiency of PPP projects and climate change adaptation are critical in China, whereas in Ghana, SR factors directly related to job creation and environmental protection are critical. The outputs of this study inform investors of the critical SR initiatives to consider when engaging in PPPs in Asia and Africa. In addition, they provide a solid knowledge base for the continuous international debate on how sustainability could be enhanced through PPP policy.

At present, many developing countries around the world are experiencing urbanization, and China has the largest scale of urbanization. The current literature mainly focuses on the relationship between economic factors, environmental factors and urbanization, ignoring the human factors. In fact, whether sufficient social security can be provided to solve people’s worries, as well as people’s social attitudes, has an important impact on their migration from rural areas to urban areas. By using the China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2018 data and constructing a binary logistic model, this paper studies the impact of social security on migration from rural areas to urban areas, as well as the mediating effects of people’s social attitudes. The results reveal that: (1) Social security has a significant positive effect on migration from rural areas to urban areas. (2) The improvement of the sense of fairness, happiness and security is conducive to the integration willingness and identity of the rural population and promotes urbanization. Therefore, social attitude plays an important mediating role. According to our study, policymakers need to consider how to build a suitable social security system and make rural residents feel safe and happy, so as to promote the sustainable development of urbanization.

The socioeconomic impacts of infrastructure investment are worth examining in both academic and practical areas. Regarding Chinese high-speed railway construction, the existing literature mainly focuses on the macro-economic level consequences of high-speed railway openings, leaving the micro-economic level impacts commonly untested. Using archival data of Chinese listed companies from 2009 to 2018 and the difference-in-difference (DID) approach, this paper examines the influential effect of Chinese high-speed railway openings on corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance. Empirical results show that high-speed railway openings can significantly improve Chinese listed companies’ CSR performance, and this positive effect is more salient when companies are experiencing lower information transparency. Mediating effect tests illustrate that the increased investor site visits caused by high-speed railway openings are one internal mechanism behind the main connection. Overall, from a micro-level perspective, this article provides additional evidence on the socioeconomic impact of transportation infrastructure investments.

This Research Topic was proposed with the intent to: 1) share and catalog experiences of how to conduct system accounting for energy production and consumption from different perspectives, 2) to promote a deeper understanding of the resource nexus by considering integrated management of “Energy+” systems, and 3) to encourage critical discussion of policy responses for sustainable energy production and consumption, to connect academic research and practical management. The eventual submissions covered a range of themes, although the Energy+ (or Energy-X-Nexus) approach was less covered. Energy and the potential economic opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions were considered at a variety of scales—national, provincial, sectoral, company—and using various alternative techniques

As China has experienced rapid economic growth, the study of household wealth distribution has become a pressing issue. This paper uses data from the 2012–2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to examine the impact of demographic factors and urban–rural differences on household wealth distribution. The study finds that China’s household wealth Gini coefficient has increased significantly, with wealthier households accumulating wealth at a much faster rate than those at the bottom. In addition, negative wealth households, hand-to-mouth households, and indebted households have all shown an upward trend. Despite small marginal effects, demographic factors such as education, average household age, elderly numbers, and household size do not significantly affect the overall trend of the wealth distribution. Both rural and urban households at the top maintain high growth rates, but the average urban household experiences faster wealth growth than its rural counterpart. Asset allocation between rural and urban households also shows significant differences. This analysis underscores the importance of examining wealth distribution to promote equitable resource allocation and economic stability. Policymakers can use the findings of this study to reduce economic disparities and achieve the goal of common prosperity in China.

Chez les mammifères, la variation des traits est souvent plus importante chez les mâles que chez les femelles. Cependant, à ce jour, seuls les traits morphologiques ont été étudiés. La dépense énergétique représente les coûts métaboliques de multiples traits physiques, physiologiques et comportementaux. La dépense énergétique pourrait présenter une plus grande variation masculine particulièrement élevée par un effet cumulatif si ces traits présentent principalement une plus grande variation masculine, ou une absence de plus grande variation masculine si beaucoup d'entre eux ne le font pas. Les différences entre les sexes dans la variation de la dépense énergétique ont été peu explorées. Nous avons analysé une grande base de données sur la dépense énergétique chez les humains adultes (1494 mâles et 3108 femelles) pour déterminer si les humains ont évolué en fonction des différences entre les sexes dans le degré de variation interindividuelle de la dépense énergétique. Nous avons constaté que, même en comparant statistiquement les hommes et les femmes du même âge, de la même taille et de la même composition corporelle, il y a beaucoup plus de variation dans le total, l'activité et la dépense énergétique de base chez les hommes. Cependant, avec le vieillissement, la variation de la dépense énergétique totale diminue, et parce que cela se produit plus rapidement chez les hommes, l'ampleur de la plus grande variation chez les hommes, bien que toujours importante, est atténuée dans les groupes d'âge plus âgés. Une variation considérablement plus grande des dépenses énergétiques totales et d'activité chez les hommes pourrait s'expliquer par une plus grande variation des niveaux d'activité quotidienne chez les hommes. La variation considérablement plus grande de la dépense énergétique basale chez les hommes est remarquable et peut s'expliquer, au moins en partie, par une plus grande variation chez les hommes de la taille des organes énergivores. Si la dépense énergétique est un trait qui intéresse indirectement les femmes lors du choix d'un partenaire sexuel, cela suggère que la dépense énergétique est soumise à la sélection sexuelle. Cependant, nous présentons un nouveau modèle énergétique démontrant qu'il est également possible que les femelles aient subi une pression de sélection stabilisatrice pour une dépense énergétique de base intermédiaire afin de maximiser l'énergie disponible pour la reproduction. En los mamíferos, a menudo se informa que la variación del rasgo es mayor entre los machos que entre las hembras. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha, principalmente solo se han estudiado rasgos morfológicos. El gasto de energía representa los costos metabólicos de múltiples rasgos físicos, fisiológicos y de comportamiento. El gasto de energía podría exhibir una variación masculina particularmente alta a través de un efecto acumulativo si esos rasgos exhiben en su mayoría una mayor variación masculina, o una falta de mayor variación masculina si muchos de ellos no lo hacen. Las diferencias de sexo en la variación del gasto energético se han explorado poco. Analizamos una gran base de datos sobre el gasto de energía en humanos adultos (1494 hombres y 3108 mujeres) para investigar si los humanos han evolucionado las diferencias sexuales en el grado de variación interindividual en el gasto de energía. Encontramos que, incluso cuando se comparan estadísticamente hombres y mujeres de la misma edad, altura y composición corporal, hay mucha más variación en el total, la actividad y el gasto energético basal entre los hombres. Sin embargo, con el envejecimiento, la variación en el gasto total de energía disminuye, y debido a que esto sucede más rápidamente en los hombres, la magnitud de una mayor variación masculina, aunque sigue siendo grande, se atenúa en los grupos de mayor edad. Una variación masculina considerablemente mayor tanto en el gasto energético total como en la actividad podría explicarse por una mayor variación masculina en los niveles de actividad diaria. La variación masculina considerablemente mayor en el gasto de energía basal es notable y puede explicarse, al menos en parte, por una mayor variación masculina en el tamaño de los órganos que demandan energía. Si el gasto de energía es un rasgo que es de interés indirecto para las mujeres al elegir una pareja sexual, esto sugeriría que el gasto de energía está bajo selección sexual. Sin embargo, presentamos un nuevo modelo energético que demuestra que también es posible que las hembras hayan estado bajo una presión de selección estabilizadora para un gasto energético basal intermedio para maximizar la energía disponible para la reproducción. In mammals, trait variation is often reported to be greater among males than females. However, to date, mainly only morphological traits have been studied. Energy expenditure represents the metabolic costs of multiple physical, physiological, and behavioral traits. Energy expenditure could exhibit particularly high greater male variation through a cumulative effect if those traits mostly exhibit greater male variation, or a lack of greater male variation if many of them do not. Sex differences in energy expenditure variation have been little explored. We analyzed a large database on energy expenditure in adult humans (1494 males and 3108 females) to investigate whether humans have evolved sex differences in the degree of interindividual variation in energy expenditure. We found that, even when statistically comparing males and females of the same age, height, and body composition, there is much more variation in total, activity, and basal energy expenditure among males. However, with aging, variation in total energy expenditure decreases, and because this happens more rapidly in males, the magnitude of greater male variation, though still large, is attenuated in older age groups. Considerably greater male variation in both total and activity energy expenditure could be explained by greater male variation in levels of daily activity. The considerably greater male variation in basal energy expenditure is remarkable and may be explained, at least in part, by greater male variation in the size of energy-demanding organs. If energy expenditure is a trait that is of indirect interest to females when choosing a sexual partner, this would suggest that energy expenditure is under sexual selection. However, we present a novel energetics model demonstrating that it is also possible that females have been under stabilizing selection pressure for an intermediate basal energy expenditure to maximize energy available for reproduction. في الثدييات، غالبًا ما يتم الإبلاغ عن تباين السمات بين الذكور أكثر من الإناث. ومع ذلك، حتى الآن، تمت دراسة السمات المورفولوجية فقط. يمثل إنفاق الطاقة التكاليف الأيضية للسمات الفيزيائية والفسيولوجية والسلوكية المتعددة. يمكن أن يُظهر الإنفاق على الطاقة تباينًا أكبر بين الذكور بشكل خاص من خلال تأثير تراكمي إذا كانت هذه السمات تُظهر في الغالب تباينًا أكبر بين الذكور، أو عدم وجود تباين أكبر بين الذكور إذا لم يفعل الكثير منهم ذلك. لم يتم استكشاف الاختلافات بين الجنسين في تباين إنفاق الطاقة إلا قليلاً. قمنا بتحليل قاعدة بيانات كبيرة حول إنفاق الطاقة لدى البشر البالغين (1494 من الذكور و 3108 من الإناث) للتحقيق فيما إذا كان البشر قد طوروا اختلافات بين الجنسين في درجة التباين بين الأفراد في إنفاق الطاقة. وجدنا أنه حتى عند المقارنة الإحصائية بين الذكور والإناث من نفس العمر والطول وتكوين الجسم، هناك تباين أكبر بكثير في إجمالي الإنفاق على الطاقة والنشاط والطاقة القاعدية بين الذكور. ومع ذلك، مع التقدم في السن، ينخفض التباين في إجمالي إنفاق الطاقة، ولأن هذا يحدث بسرعة أكبر لدى الذكور، فإن حجم التباين الأكبر للذكور، على الرغم من أنه لا يزال كبيرًا، يتم تخفيفه في الفئات العمرية الأكبر سنًا. يمكن تفسير التباين الأكبر للذكور في كل من إجمالي إنفاق الطاقة والنشاط من خلال التباين الأكبر للذكور في مستويات النشاط اليومي. يعد التباين الأكبر للذكور في إنفاق الطاقة القاعدية أمرًا ملحوظًا ويمكن تفسيره، جزئيًا على الأقل، بالتباين الأكبر للذكور في حجم الأعضاء التي تتطلب الطاقة. إذا كان إنفاق الطاقة سمة ذات أهمية غير مباشرة للإناث عند اختيار شريك جنسي، فإن هذا يشير إلى أن إنفاق الطاقة يخضع للانتقاء الجنسي. ومع ذلك، نقدم نموذجًا جديدًا للطاقة يوضح أنه من الممكن أيضًا أن تكون الإناث تحت ضغط اختيار مستقر لإنفاق طاقة قاعدية وسيطة لزيادة الطاقة المتاحة للتكاثر.