In selected South Asian countries, the study intends to investigate the relationship between urban population (UP), carbon dioxide (CO₂), trade openness (TO), gross domestic product (GDP), foreign direct investment (FDI), and renewable energy (RE). Fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least square (DOLS) models for estimation were used in the study, which covered yearly data from 1990 to 2019. We used Levin–Lin–Chu, Im–Pesaran–Shin, and Fisher PP tests for the stationarity of the variables. The outcomes of the panel cointegration approach looked at whether there was a long-run equilibrium nexus between selected variables in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. The FMOLS approach was also used to assess the relationship, and the results suggest that there is a significant and negative nexus between FDI and renewable energy in south Asian nations. The study’s findings reveal a strong and favorable relationship between GDP and renewable energy use. In South Asian nations (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh), the FMOLS and DOLS findings are nearly identical, but the authors used the DOLS model for robustification. According to the findings, policymakers in South Asian economies (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh) should view GDP and FDI as fundamental policy instruments for environmental sustainability. To reduce reliance on hazardous energy sources, the government should also reassure financial sectors to participate in renewable energy.

This study explores the connection between corporate governance and sustainability performance through the mediating role of corporate governance and the moderating role of top management environmental concern, taking into account the perspectives of agency theory and stakeholder theory. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 314 employees working in SMEs operating in China, and the data analysis was carried out using Smart PLS 4 and SPSS. The results indicate that green corporate governance and green finance have a significant impact on corporate social responsibility, which in turn positively affects sustainable performance. Corporate social responsibility significantly mediates the link between green corporate governance and sustainable performance. Meanwhile, corporate social responsibility also mediates the relationship between green finance and sustainable performance. Additionally, top management environmental concern moderates the relationship between corporate governance and sustainable performance significantly, strengthening the impact of corporate social responsibility on sustainable performance. The study contributes to the literature by exploring the relationship between corporate governance, green finance, and sustainable performance in the context of Chinese SMEs. The study’s findings have significant implications for policymakers and managers interested in promoting sustainable development.

The development of fiscal ability remains essential under fiscal decentralization models. The operational power to handle public funds efficiently allows municipalities to meet local requirements while developing the regions effectively. Regional economic development receives stronger preferential treatment from local governments because their strong fiscal capacity allows active involvement. The study conducted how fiscal capabilities at the regional level influence economic development convergence in all of Indonesia's 30 provinces. We use conditional beta convergence tests to analyze the Inclusive Economic Development Index given its major parameter of financial decentralization levels and local autonomy powers alongside revenue performance quality and both direct and indirect budget allocations. Results showed distinct convergence patterns exist among all Indonesian provinces. The findings showed substantial improvements toward achieving economic development that includes all sectors as well as the reduction of regional disparities. The study revealed that fiscal capacity especially decentralization levels and direct spending distribution determine economic convergence results between provinces. The research adds comprehension to the strategies of utilizing fiscal policies to promote sustainable economic development with equality across regions at the regional level.

It is crucial for the corporate sector to set aside a reasonable proportion of revenues for a sustainable corporate environment to transfer favorable and long-lasting impact to the upcoming generations. This study analyzed the impact of firm performance (FP) of the 25 energy sector sample firms of the Shanghai stock exchange (SSE) on corporate social responsibility (CSR) for the period 2011–2020 in light of the role of the intervening variable, corporate governance (CG). The data of the sample firms were analyzed and tested through multiple regression and structural equation models. This study is conducted in a developed economy with the rare mediator of CG to attempt to fill the gap of the previous studies conducted in a specific region of developing economies. The results show a pivotal role of FP in favorable CSR practices. In addition, the more established CG mechanism, as a mediator, has a considerable role between the predictor and predicted variables in the study. It is concluded from the results that firms in developed economies are more sustainability conscious than developing countries’ firms in terms of CG and CSR practices, which has been observed from the findings of the previously conducted studies in developing nations. Furthermore, structural equation model analysis values of βs for return on assets (ROA = 0.48), return on equity (ROE = 0.65), return on sales (ROS = 0.80), and debt-ratio (LIB = 0.40) considerably affects FP in the sample firms. It is also observed from the correlation matrix that FP indicators (ROA, ROS, ROE, and LIB) have positive as well as significant effects on CG and CSR practices. This study’s detailed policy implications are provided in the conclusion section.

The current study analyzes the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis by examining how asymmetric energies between material depletion and foreign direct investment and environmental degradation operated across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries from 1983 to 2024. The research implements critical environmental indicators CO₂ (Carbon dioxide) and CH₄ (Methane) and N₂O (Nitrous oxide) with ECF (Ecological footprint) to analyze greenhouse gas emissions' effects on environmental sustainability. The analysis based on panel data econometrics reveals asymmetric relationships between variables that affect CO2, N2O and CH4 emissions and ecological footprint (ECF). The results demonstrate that FDI promotes CO2 and N2O emissions but reduces CH4 emissions, which leads to overall environmental quality improvement in the future. The positive relationship of trade openness with environmental emissions dominates its protective mechanisms because industrial enlargement and resource utilization play the dominant role. The dual nature of economic growth becomes clear because rising rates lead to worse environmental conditions, but decreasing economic growth presents unpredictable results in terms of pollutant levels. The reduction of emissions occurs through urbanization processes, which shows stronger evidence than emissions due to energy consumption, thus requiring sustainable energy guidelines. The study provides essential information to policymakers about controlling FDI while establishing sustainable trading practices and adopting renewable power generation systems to decrease environmental degradation across OIC nations. The study demonstrates that governments need specific actions which combine the development of economies with environmentally sound practices

Background: Among youth, overuse of social media has been linked to increased psychological distress such as depression, anxiety, and stress. How demographic variables and family processes affect such effects remains a gap that still requires exploration.Objectives: To examine the impact of social media overuse on youth psychological distress, explore its moderating effects concerning demographic and family variables, and what adolescents' perceptions are of peer pressure, online validation, and cyberbullying.Methodology: An exploratory sequential mixed-method design was used, combining quantitative surveys (DASS-21, PHQ-9, GAD-7) and qualitative semi-structured interviews. The sample size was 500 adolescents; data analysis was descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and thematic analysis.Results: Social media overuse had a direct impact on psychological distress levels. Family relationships, specifically parental engagement, moderated these impacts. Qualitative findings identified peer pressure, cyberbullying, and online validation as key contributors to distress.Conclusion: There are adverse effects on adolescent mental health from overuse of social media, for which family participation can act as a protective measure.Interventions must include enhancing parental engagement and encouraging healthy social media usage.