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This paper aims to tackle the challenge topic of continuum structural layout in the presence of random loads and to develop an efficient robust method.

An innovative robust topology optimization approach for continuum structures with random applied loads is reported. Simultaneous minimization of the expectation and the variance of the structural compliance is performed. Uncertain load vectors are dealt with by using additional uncertain pseudo random load vectors. The sensitivity information of the robust objective function is obtained approximately by using the Taylor expansion technique. The design problem is solved using bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization method with the derived sensitivity numbers.

The numerical examples show the significant topological changes of the robust solutions compared with the equivalent deterministic solutions.

A simple yet efficient robust topology optimization approach for continuum structures with random applied loads is developed. The computational time scales linearly with the number of applied loads with uncertainty, which is very efficient when compared with Monte Carlo-based optimization method.

In the context of green development in China, the circumstance in which Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings function has changed. As an important external governance mechanism of sustainable development, ESG ratings can also be a two-edged sword for the implementation of carbon emission reduction. This research examines the connection of ESG ratings and corporate carbon emission reduction in the context of green development. This present study postulates that the impact of ESG ratings on carbon emission reduction performance in the context of green development is inverted U-shaped.

To obtain empirical evidence for the hypotheses proposed, this study makes an empirical test based on the two-way fixed effects model. The data is taken from listed Chinese manufacturing firms between 2012 and 2021.

The study reveals that there is a significant inverted U-shape relationship between ESG ratings and carbon emission reduction performance in the context of green development. Managerial myopic behaviour plays a positive moderating role in the above relationship. In addition, it makes the inflection point of inverted U-shaped curve move to left. Heterogeneity analyses show that the above inverted U-shaped relationship is more significant for firms that don’t hire CEO with environmental protection background or big four accounting firms.

In the background of green development, this study helps to understand dual influence of ESG ratings on corporate carbon emission reduction deeply. It is beneficial to guide enterprises to utilize ESG ratings mechanism reasonably, thus enhancing the effectiveness of carbon emission reduction. This study provides decision-making reference for government to accelerate low-carbon transformation in microcosmic field.

This study examines whether country-level financial integration affects firms' accounting choices and the quality of financial information.

This study employs Propensity Score Matching (PSM), and panel regressions of a large sample of data from 20 emerging markets over the period 1987–2018.

This study finds evidence that increased level of financial integration is significantly positively associated with firms' accruals earnings management (AEM) and real earnings management (REM).

Findings in the study have implications for standard-setting bodies that aim to enhance the usefulness of financial reporting quality. The study also has implications for various initiatives by governments in emerging markets aimed at raising investor confidence and fostering stock market development through greater financial integration.

Findings in the study have implications for standard-setting bodies that aim to enhance the usefulness and quality of financial reporting. The findings can be of interest to analysts, auditors and other monitoring institutions who play a crucial role in detecting earnings management and reducing information asymmetry. Finally, the study has implications for various initiatives by governments in emerging markets aimed at raising investor confidence and fostering stock market development through greater financial integration.

Findings in the study reveal how country-level financial integration affects accruals and real earnings management in a sample of firms from 20 emerging markets. Further, the study adds to the growing body of literature on emerging markets where capital markets mechanisms, regulatory environment and firm's corporate governance are distinct to developed markets.

This paper analyzes and discusses the fundamental role of new urbanization in the construction of a new development pattern based on the specific practice of China’s new urbanization construction, combining the classical Marxist ideas in urbanization and the theory of the industrial capital circulation, and proposes to remove blockages in the domestic and international circulations through developing new urbanization and construct a new development pattern with the domestic circulation as the mainstay and the domestic and international circulations promoting each other, thereby achieving high-quality national economic operation.

Based on the theory of industrial capital circulation, this paper elucidates the general process of domestic and international economic circulations, critically examines the bottlenecks and challenges in economic circulation, and emphasizes the mechanisms through which new urbanization contributes to the formation of a new development pattern.

The people-centered new urbanization can effectively release domestic demand, optimize investment supply, and stabilize market participants’ expectations, linking the national economic circulation from production to consumption and alleviating supply and demand mismatches, which has a fundamental role in building the new development pattern.

We should focus on creating a comprehensive domestic demand system based on counties while fostering a unified domestic market led by urban clusters and metropolitan areas to stabilize and enhance the expectations of both domestic and international market participants.

With the increasing usage of social networking sites, there has been considerable interest in Word‐of‐Mouth (WOM) research. The purpose of this paper is to propose that economic elasticity theory can be applied to evaluate WOM effects and serve as the basis for cross‐product comparison. The practicality of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study. It is hoped that the result of this study solves the argument of WOM effects as shown in past research.

In order to remove restrictions of measuring WOM objectively, the research asked consumers to form their positive evaluation of WOM about a product or service. In the event that consumers can assess feelings accurately, the WOM consumption function can be constructed and the marginal effect of WOM estimated. The study uses a self‐reported questionnaire to estimate WOM elasticity for 13 products. In total, 465 valid questionnaires were collected.

Empirical results demonstrate that: first, for all 13 product categories, a significant percentage of respondents are very sensitive to the WOM of product they want to buy; and second, the WOM elasticity of the 13 product categories is between 0.24 and 1.31; the average elasticity was 0.84 for service product and 0.43 for physical goods.

This study may lead to a better understanding of the effectiveness of WOM. WOM elasticity provides an alternative view to examine WOM effects across different products; moreover, it offers an opportunity to re‐evaluate the results of past research.

The impact of banking deregulation on firms and economic growth is heavily researched, but not the effects on banks’ risk-taking. This study aims to investigate the impact of China’s 2009 banking deregulation on bank risk-taking, particularly from a balance sheet capacity perspective.

Using a difference-in-differences approach, this study examines how deregulation affects bank risk-taking. A three-stage regression strategy is employed to conduct mechanism analysis.

The results reveal that deregulated banks exhibit higher levels of risk-taking. Mechanism analysis confirms the bank balance sheet capacity channel: deregulation helps strengthen the net interest margin of deregulated banks, which enhances their balance sheet capacity and subsequently increases their risk appetite. In addition, deregulation improves firms’ access to long-term credit in regions with limited credit availability, especially for smaller firms, thereby expanding the financial sector’s service outreach.

While banking deregulation enhances credit availability for firms and supports the real economy, it also raises banks’ risk-taking, posing challenges to financial stability. Our study highlights the trade-off between supporting the real economy and maintaining financial stability under banking deregulation.

This study fills a gap in research on the effects of banking deregulation on bank risk-taking, highlighting the critical role of balance sheet capacity in this process.