High-standard farmland construction is an important initiative in China that promotes sustainable agricultural development and ensures food security through land consolidation. This study measures the growth of agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) in China, which is used to characterize the sustainable development of agriculture. Using provincial panel data from China and a continuous difference-in-difference (DID) model, the study examines the impact of high-standard farmland construction policy on ATFP growth. Results show that ATFP in China has an increasing trend with an average annual growth rate of 3.6%. The average enhancement effect of high-standard farmland construction policy on ATFP is 1.0%, which remains significant after various robustness tests. The positive effect of the policy on ATFP becomes apparent in the third year of implementation and shows a gradually increasing trend. The study also finds that the impact of high-standard farmland construction on ATFP is more pronounced in the central regions of China, the main grain-producing regions, and the regions with higher ATFP. High-standard farmland construction policy enhances ATFP by promoting agricultural technology change and technical efficiency. To promote the growth of ATFP and achieve sustainable agricultural development, China should continue to promote the construction of high-standard farmland and explore suitable construction models for different regions.

Purpose: This study aims to determine the current state of implementation and effectiveness of education for sustainable development (ESD) in Pakistani higher education institutions (HEIs) using students’ and teachers’ perceptions of sustainability.Design/methodology/approach: A survey on teachers and students was conducted in public and private universities in Punjab, Pakistan. Data from 1,915 students and 120 teachers were collected through semi-structured questionnaires implemented during face-to-face interviews. Students were asked to rank social, environmental and economic indicators of sustainability consciousness (SC) on a five-point Likert scale. Structural equation model and regression model are used to analyze the data. The perceptions of students and teachers were assessed from their knowledge of sustainability.Findings: The occurrence of ESD in Pakistani HEIs is low and teachers have inadequate knowledge of sustainability. The holistic approach to ESD has a more pronounced effect on students’ SC as compared to the pluralistic approach to ESD. Also, there is a correlation between the students’ grades/class and the effectiveness of ESD. There is a need to pay more attention to implement ESD for undergraduate students in Pakistani HEIs.Originality/value: The study stands out for using cross-sectional data from public and private universities of Pakistan. Furthermore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in Pakistan which attempts to investigate the effectiveness of ESD in terms of students’ SC.

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the economy and industry has gradually extended from the macroeconomic to the microeconomic level. Artificial intelligence technology has brought great innovation and impact to the company’s operation and management and has a strong role in promoting the level of corporate governance. Based on an in-depth analysis of the theoretical mechanism of artificial intelligence affecting corporate governance, and based on the balanced panel data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2020, this paper empirically analyzes the mechanism and intermediary effect of artificial intelligence affecting corporate governance. The study found that AI applications can significantly improve corporate governance levels, and a higher level of artificial intelligence application can produce a higher level of corporate governance. From the perspective of the impact path, artificial intelligence technology can significantly improve the degree of information symmetry required for corporate governance, thereby providing favorable technical conditions and decision support for improving the level of corporate governance. Artificial intelligence technology has a positive and effective impact on corporate governance through the information symmetry effect.