Xiaohua Chen

This study investigates the causality between the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by new cases per million and new deaths per million) and geopolitical risks (measured by the index of geopolitical risks). We use the balanced panel data framework in 18 emerging economies from January 2020 to August 2020. We run the initial tests of cross-sectional dependence and the panel unit root tests with capturing cross-sectional dependence. Then, we utilize the panel Granger non-causality tests for heterogeneous stationary panel datasets. According to the findings, there is a significant causality from both measures of spreading the COVID-19 pandemic to geopolitical risks. Further tests are performed, and potential implications are also discussed.

The reform of China’s tax-sharing system in 1994 has not only had a profound heterogeneous impact on the control level of fiscal resources by local government but also might exert a negative effect on the sustainable development of tourism. Based on this hypothesis, this paper uses 1993–2018 data from 31 Chinese provinces to examine the dynamic relationship between China’s fiscal decentralization, income gap, urbanization, and tourism growth using a panel co-integration model. Our results show that there is a stable co-integration relationship between fiscal decentralization, income gap, and tourism growth. In general, the impact of fiscal decentralization and income gap on tourism development varies across regions. However, in most provinces, urbanization helps the development of tourism. Urbanization and fiscal decentralization also help reduce the income gap. This shows that the inter-regional government competition promotes not only the growth of tourism but also income equality. To achieve the sustainable development of tourism, China should not only take the advantage of local governments’ incentives for economic growth but also handle the income gap problem considering local conditions.