Issue #3 (Volume 17 2026)

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Vietnam’s revived nuclear power program creates an environmental economics problem because accident externalities, restoration obligations, and delayed compensation can shift costs from operators to affected communities, ecosystems, and public budgets. This study aims to assess the environmental and economic risk allocation and compensation readiness of Vietnam’s post-2025 nuclear liability framework against modern international nuclear liability benchmarks. A doctrinal and comparative method is applied to Law No. 94/2025/QH15, Decree No. 332/2025/ND-CP, Decision No. 768/QD-TTg, the 1997 Vienna Convention, and IAEA materials, using legal and policy data for 2025–2026 updated through April 2026. The results show that Vietnam fully aligns with five of seven benchmark elements and partially aligns with two. The aligned elements perform four economic functions: channeling concentrates claims and insurance demand in one operator; strict liability internalizes prevention and accident costs; seven compensable heads cover death, health injury, property loss, direct economic loss, environmental restoration, environmental-use income loss, preventive measures, and residual economic loss; and 30-year/10-year limitation periods protect latent claims. The monetary architecture requires 150 million SDR of operator financial security for nuclear power plants, 5 million SDR for other installations and transport, a 300 million SDR total compensation floor per incident, and a state top-up for shortfalls. The terrorism defense and missing treaty-based cross-border procedure remain partial gaps. The study concludes that Vietnam has a domestic platform for cost internalization, but full environmental and economic compensation readiness depends on treaty accession, valuation rules for environmental damage, and operational financing of claims.

Acknowledgment
This research is funded by University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
The transition toward low-carbon energy systems is increasingly viewed not only as an environmental necessity but also as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and entrepreneurial development in modern economies. This study investigates how public energy research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) expenditures are associated with annual energy and green start-up counts, as well as with the availability of venture financing for clean-technology entrepreneurship across countries. The empirical analysis is based on a panel dataset covering 23 countries over the period 2000–2023 (470 country-year observations). It applies Poisson and negative binomial fixed-effects models, distributed lag specifications, fixed-effects OLS, and Gamma PML and PPML estimators. The results indicate that public RD&D spending does not have a statistically significant immediate effect on the number of green start-ups, as the Poisson FE estimates for renewable RD&D (0.034) and storage RD&D (0.011) remain insignificant. The venture-funding models show positive, though only weakly significant, coefficients for renewable-energy RD&D, with values of 1.41 for early-stage funding and 1.56 for later-stage funding, suggesting a possible association between public research activity and venture financing. Robustness checks indicate that low-carbon RD&D is positively associated with later-stage venture financing in selected model specifications, with a PPML coefficient of 1.77. The findings suggest that public RD&D is not a standalone driver of annual energy and green start-up counts and may be related to selected venture-financing outcomes, particularly in later-stage funding models, such as the scaling and commercialization of green innovation.

Acknowledgment
This article was prepared based on the results of the project 101127491-EnergyS4UA-ERASMUS-JMO2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Type of the article: Theoretical Article

Abstract
Industrial symbiosis has gained increasing importance as a systemic approach within the circular economy for improving resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this study is to develop a theoretical framework explaining how industrial symbiosis networks contribute to greenhouse gas emission reduction within an environmental economics perspective. The study is based on a theoretical analysis and conceptual synthesis of industrial ecology and environmental economics literature.
The results identify three core operational mechanisms – material substitution, energy cascading, and waste valorization – through which industrial symbiosis reduces lifecycle emissions, and structure their relationships within a framework consisting of four interrelated components: industrial symbiosis activities, operational mechanisms, environmental performance outcomes, and environmental economic outcomes. Greenhouse gas emissions expressed in CO2-equivalent terms are conceptualized as the primary environmental performance indicator, while economic indicators such as cost savings, eco-efficiency, and emission abatement cost are integrated to explain how emission reduction aligns with economic efficiency. The framework demonstrates that industrial symbiosis functions as a decentralized coordination mechanism that reduces environmental externalities through system-level resource optimization rather than technological change alone.
The findings contribute to environmental economics theory by clarifying the relationship between industrial cooperation, environmental performance indicators, and economic efficiency, providing a structured basis for future empirical assessment and policy evaluation.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Central Asian countries face acute air quality challenges, with PM2.5 concentrations in major cities exceeding World Health Organization guidelines several times over, while industrial CO₂ emissions continue to rise alongside economic development. Understanding the empirical linkage between these pollutants is essential for designing integrated environmental policies. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of industrial CO₂ emissions on PM2.5 air pollution in five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – using balanced panel data for the period 2000–2020 (N = 105) obtained from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators. Pooled OLS, fixed effects, and random effects estimators were applied, with GDP per capita, urbanization, and energy intensity as control variables. Model selection was based on the Hausman test, and robustness was verified through ten alternative specifications. The random effects model (Hausman χ2 = 0.412, p = 0.521) reveals a statistically significant positive relationship: a one million metric ton increase in industrial CO₂ emissions is associated with a 0.87–0.89 µg/m3 rise in mean annual PM2.5 concentration (p < 0.01). The coefficient remains stable across all robustness checks (0.823–0.923). GDP per capita shows a significant negative effect (−1.92, p < 0.05), supporting the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis, while energy intensity has a positive effect (p < 0.05). Country-specific effects reveal substantial heterogeneity, with Tajikistan exhibiting the highest baseline PM2.5 (+26.25 µg/m3 above Kazakhstan) and Turkmenistan the lowest (+7.49 µg/m3). These findings confirm the co-pollutant hypothesis and justify integrated climate-air quality policies with country-specific strategies.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions that helped improve this manuscript.

Type of the article: Review Article

Abstract
Energy prices are a crucial factor influencing the emissions–income nexus. Hence, this study aims to examine the environmental effects of energy prices within the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework through bibliometric analysis and narrative synthesis of empirical studies. For this purpose, 67 Scopus-indexed documents published during 1997–2025 are analyzed. The bibliometric findings reveal that publications have grown at an exponential rate since 2016, peaking at 10 articles in 2023. Bradford’s Law analysis identifies that Environmental Science and Pollution Research is the leading source. Moreover, Lotka’s Law shows that nearly 75% of authors contributed only one or two studies, indicating a diverse research community. Citation analysis further reveals high global citations but limited local citations, suggesting strong external visibility but relatively weak internal connectivity. Thematic analysis identifies carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy as dominant motor themes, showing increasing scholarly interest in the renewable energy transition due to high energy prices. The empirical synthesis shows that the EKC hypothesis and environmental benefits of high prices are more frequently validated in energy-importing advanced economies. In contrast, studies on energy-exporting economies often fail to validate the EKC hypothesis or report N-shaped EKC patterns, together with adverse environmental effects of energy prices. Overall, the review concludes that the environmental impact of energy prices within the EKC framework varies according to economic development and energy-trade status.

Acknowledgment
The authors extend their appreciation to Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University for funding this research work through the project number (PSAU/2025/RV/9). All utilized data for analysis are available at Mendeley Data (Mahmood, 2026).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study analyzes the impact of digitalization, green transformation, financial access, and institutional support on agricultural labor productivity in transition economies of Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Panel data for six countries (2000–2024) were examined using fixed and random effects models, with robustness checks using the Driscoll–Kraay estimator. Results show that digitalization and financial access consistently enhance productivity at the panel level (0.141; p < 0.01), while institutional factors do not show a consistent direct effect once temporal trends are removed (0.050, p > 0.05), though they may strengthen resilience indirectly. In contrast, the Green Index exerts a significant negative effect (–1.848; p < 0.01), reflecting substantial transitional costs of ecological modernization. Country fixed effects reveal heterogeneity: Moldova (+0.1106) shows the highest positive deviation, while Armenia (–0.0365), Azerbaijan (–0.0749), and Kazakhstan (–0.0382) exhibit negative deviations. Ukraine (+0.0176) and Georgia (+0.0028) remain close to the panel mean. Country specific regressions reveal both commonalities and divergences. In Moldova, institutional quality (0.265, p < 0.001), digitalization (0.033, p = 0.026), and green practices (–0.462, p < 0.001) significantly shape productivity, while finance is excluded. In Armenia, institutional quality (0.469, p = 0.001) and green practices (–0.502, p = 0.001) remain significant, but finance enters negatively (–0.855, p = 0.050), and digitalization is excluded. Digitalization and finance are immediate productivity enhancers at the regional level, but their role varies by country. Ecological modernization imposes short term costs and requires compensatory policies.

Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the financial support received for the implementation of the project “Accelerating the Digital and Green Transformation of Agri-Food SMEs in Moldova and Armenia”, funded by the National Agency for Research and Development of the Republic of Moldova (NARD) (Project No. 26.80013.0807.05ARM) and the Higher Education and Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia (Project No. 26NARD-1D007).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study examines the dynamic relationships among environmental quality, economic growth, and trade across a sample of Asia-Pacific economies during the period 2000–2024. While previous studies have extensively investigated the links between economic growth, trade, and environmental degradation, relatively limited attention has been devoted to examining these variables simultaneously within a dynamic multivariate framework. To address this gap, the study employs a Vector Autoregression (VAR) approach to analyze the interdependencies among economic and environmental indicators. Environmental quality is represented by CO2 emissions, land-use change, biocapacity, and ecological footprint, while economic activity and trade are measured using GDP and trade indicators. The empirical results reveal significant dynamic relationships among economic growth, trade, and environmental variables. The estimated coefficients indicate substantial persistence across several economic and environmental indicators, suggesting important temporal dependencies within the system. The impulse response analysis further shows that shocks originating from environmental variables generate measurable responses in economic indicators, while economic disturbances are also associated with subsequent changes in environmental conditions. In addition, the stability analysis indicates that the estimated VAR system satisfies the stability condition over the sample period. The findings suggest that economic growth, trade activity, and environmental quality evolve within an interconnected dynamic framework. These results contribute to the literature on environmental–economic interactions and highlight the importance of incorporating environmental considerations into broader economic and trade policy discussions aimed at supporting long-term sustainable development.

Acknowledgment
The funding for this research was provided by Universitas Hasanuddin. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the university for their generous support, which made this study possible.

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
This study aims to assess a macroeconomic methodological approach for evaluating the impact of investment activity, energy efficiency, energy costs, and renewable energy development on CO₂ emissions in Ukraine, using the model’s insights for a conceptual extrapolation to the residential sector with subsequent policy scaling to the municipal building stock. The methodological basis is a top-down approach using econometric modeling (OLS) for 2002–2021, which represents the pre-war period in Ukraine. All estimations are based on aggregated macroeconomic proxy indicators and not on direct residential or municipal emissions measurement data due to a lack of reliable information. The results demonstrate that macroeconomic energy efficiency is the most powerful driver of decarbonization. An analysis of the residential sector indicates that higher household financial burdens associated with higher utility expenditures are statistically connected with lower CO₂ emissions, which may reflect demand-side adjustments in energy consumption, including price-driven savings. However, other factors, such as energy inefficiency or energy poverty, may also add to this relationship. In contrast, traditional investment activity still contributes to growing carbon footprints, with CO₂ emissions rising by 136 kg per 1% increase in gross capital formation as a share of GDP. At the same time, the estimated coefficients for global oil prices and the share of renewable energy exhibit the expected negative signs, suggesting economically meaningful long-term decarbonization tendencies. However, these relationships do not reach conventional statistical significance and should therefore be interpreted as directional trends rather than statistically confirmed effects.

Acknowledgments
This paper is funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine within the projects “Comprehensive vertically integrated intelligent system for monitoring and regulating energy supply in municipal sector buildings” (No. 0126U000867) and “Drivers and barriers to human capital transformation for a circular and green economy” (No. 0126U001080).

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Municipal waste-to-energy is often assessed through technical efficiency, energy output, or regulatory compliance. Yet, these indicators do not show whether plants create positive social welfare after operating costs and environmental damages are monetized. This study examines how operational performance, emissions intensity, and stricter environmental valuation shape the net social benefit of German municipal waste-to-energy plants from 2017 to 2023. Germany serves as a benchmark case because its mature waste-to-energy sector, European emissions regulation, and public environmental and energy-market reporting enable transparent public-record welfare assessment. The study constructs a plant-year analytical dataset for 70 facilities from publicly accessible administrative, environmental, market, and technical records, with net social benefit treated as a constructed welfare-accounting measure based on observed records, documented public proxies, and explicit valuation assumptions. It uses plant- and year-fixed-effects models, valuation sensitivity tests, and an optimization-based decision-support layer. The descriptive evidence shows substantial welfare heterogeneity, with a mean traceable-baseline net social benefit of 17.9 euros per metric ton under the central valuation case and lower mean welfare under higher shadow prices. The fixed-effects results do not provide statistical support for the hypothesized operational drivers in the public-data panel: energy recovery, emissions intensity, availability, oxygen instability, and the interaction between emissions intensity and the shadow price index are not statistically significant. The study contributes by integrating cost accounting, externality valuation, and operational performance into a transparent public-record welfare metric for policy appraisal.