In the context of China’s Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), ports have a new opportunity to realize high-quality development. Based on the analysis of the current situation of pollutant emissions from ports in China’s Pilot Free Trade Zones (FTZs), this paper introduces environmental factors into the analysis framework of the total factor productivity (TFP) of ports in China’s FTZs, and uses the Global Malmquist–Luenberger index method to analyze the evolution trend and heterogeneity of green TFP in 28 ports of China’s 19 FTZs from 2011 to 2017. The results show that firstly, the emissions of sulfur dioxide (${\mathrm{SO}}_2$), nitrogen oxides (${\mathrm{NO}}_{\mathrm{X}}$) and other pollutants in China’s FTZs have been decreasing year by year. Secondly, both the green TFP and the traditional TFP of the ports in FTZs are on the rise. The absence of environmental factors leads to the underestimation of the TFP of ports. For the green TFP, the main source of its growth is technological progress. Thirdly, there is obvious port heterogeneity in the green TFP of FTZ ports. Nanjing Port has the highest green TFP growth rate, with an average annual growth rate of 21.95%. Ningbo Port, which ranks 14th, has an average annual growth rate of 5.46%. Fuzhou Port, which is rated last, has negative growth. Fourthly, there is also obvious types and regional heterogeneity in the green TFP of FTZ ports. When categorized by type, the average annual growth rate of green TFP in inland ports is significantly higher than that of coastal ports. When categorized by region, the descending order of the average annual growth rate of green TFP is the western region, the eastern region and the central region. Fifthly, the green TFP differences among the eastern, central, and western regions, as well as between inland ports and coastal ports, are shrinking. Moreover, the green TFP differences within inland ports and coastal ports and within central ports and eastern ports are also shrinking, implying there may be σ convergence. The conclusions of this paper have important implications for the scientific understanding of the heterogeneity of green TFP growth in ports in China’s FTZs, and how to promote the green development of ports in China’s FTZs under environmental constraints.

In the context of China’s supply-side structural reform and the concept of green development, we introduce the energy and environmental factors into the analytical framework of the total factor productivity (TFP) of the logistics industry and use the Global Malmquist–Luenberger index method to analyze the evolution trend and heterogeneity of green TFP in the logistics industry of 30 provinces (cities and districts) in China from 2003 to 2017. The results show that, firstly, the green TFP and traditional TFP of China’s logistics industry are both on the rise and the absence of energy and environmental factors will lead to the overestimation of TFP of the logistics industry. Whether it is green TFP or traditional TFP, the main source of its growth is technical progress. Secondly, there is obvious regional heterogeneity in green TFP of logistics industry. Under the three regional division standards, the average annual growth rate of green TFP is from high to low in the order of eastern, western, and central regions. Under the eight regional classification standards, the eastern coastal economic zone, the southern coastal zone, the northern coastal zone, the northeast region, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the southwest region, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and the northwest region are in order from high to low. Thirdly, there is obvious interprovincial heterogeneity in green TFP of the logistics industry. The highest growth rate of green TFP is in Zhejiang, followed by Jiangsu and Guangdong, and the slowest growth rate is in Chongqing. The technical progress of logistics industry in most provinces contributes more to the growth of green TFP. Fourthly, the differences of green TFP in the three regions of the east, center, and west are shrinking, which may be convergence, but the differences among the three regions are expanding. Compared with the existing literature, this paper applies the measurement framework of green TFP to China’s logistics industry and investigates the regional and provincial heterogeneity of green TFP in logistics industry. The conclusions are significant to understand and grasp the heterogeneity of green TFP growth in China’s logistics industry under environmental constraints and how to promote the development of green logistics in China.

How to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in the context of the “double carbon” target has become a key concern for all sectors of society. This paper firstly analyzes the influence mechanism of foreign direct investment (FDI) agglomeration on carbon emission intensity, from a theoretical perspective. Then, based on a panel data of 270 cities in China from 2006 to 2019, this paper uses ArcGIS software to visually analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of FDI agglomeration and carbon emission intensity, and constructs traditional fixed effect models and spatial econometric models for empirical analysis. The results show that, first, FDI agglomeration has a significantly positive impact on the carbon emission intensity of local and neighboring cities with crowding effect. Second, the level of technological innovation can mitigate the crowding effect of FDI agglomeration on carbon emission intensity in local and neighboring cities. Third, there is a negative spatial autocorrelation between the local carbon emission intensity and the carbon emission intensity of neighboring cities. Fourth, the crowding effect of FDI agglomeration on carbon emission intensity is mainly concentrated in the central and western regions. Based on the research conclusions, this paper puts forward corresponding countermeasure suggestions.

Purpose: This study aims to examine how evolutionary and ecological forces shape the market strategy and performance of firms after their organizational form was changed by exogenous shock.Design/methodology/approach: Hypotheses are developed based on both evolutionary and ecological perspectives and tested using fixed effect logistics models and a sample of 3,110 firms that were privatized during 1998–2007.Findings: I find that once the organizational form of firms is changed, the market strategy of organizations is shaped by the population density of their old and new organizational forms in their existing market. Moreover, such a market strategy enhances the survival chance of firms.Originality/value: This study contributes to organizational evolution literature by unpacking the evolution process when exogeneous shock to organizational form takes place. It advances both evolutionary economics and organization ecology theory through integrating them to understand the evolution process of organizations. This study also contributes to the privatization literature through examining the ecological forces that shape the restructuring strategy of firms after privatization and the performance implications of such restructuring.

The rapid development of AI (artificial intelligence) has prompted radical changes in the field of education. The application of intelligent teaching systems, virtual experiments and simulation training, and intelligent education management plays a huge role in improving the quality of education, promoting education fairness, fostering innovative talents, and advancing the internationalization of education. However, the application of AI in the field of education has also brought about a number of problems, such as data privacy leakage, algorithmic bias and misjudgment, challenges to teachers' roles, etc. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the current situation of the application of AI in education, analyze the existing problems, and put forward countermeasures such as strengthening data protection, optimizing algorithm design, and improving teachers' skills, with a view to promoting the healthy development of artificial intelligence in higher education.