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Composite quantile estimation in PLS-SEM for environment sustainable development evaluation

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Abstract

The main purpose of our article is to provide statistical methods and quantitative evidences regarding environment sustainable development evaluation (ESDE). To accomplish our investigation, we establish a theoretical ESDE model with environment and its factors first, and then develop a composite-quantile-based partial least square algorithm (CQ-based PLS) in a modified structural equation model (SEM) with quantiles. The real data analysis proofs the hypotheses in our theoretical ESDE model and provides quantitative estimates of both path and loading coefficients in CQ-based ESDE model. Taking the ordinary PLS and the existing quantile-based PLS algorithms as references, we illustrate the statistical performances of CQ-based PLS-SEM estimators through bootstraps. Our investigations mainly illustrate that environment development has positive impacts on human resource, education and health while effects economy negatively. Economy is positively affected by human resource and health. Education positively impacts economy, human resource and health. Compared with the existing two PLS algorithms, CQ-based PLS-SEM estimators have relatively better performances on the whole, which increases the possibility for generalization of our model and algorithm in various applications.

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Data availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are available in the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook, https://worldcompetitiveness.imd.org/. We use R software for programming.

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Acknowledgements

The author was very grateful to the reviewers and editors for their many helpful comments and suggestions. His investigation work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of China (72001197) and The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and the Research Funds of Renmin University of China (16XNH102). Last but not least, the author wants to thank his parents’ support since he was born, his wife Yujie Liu's patience, care and love and his two cute babies.

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  1. National Academy of Innovation Strategy, China Association for Science and Technology, Fuxing Road 3, Haidian District, Beijing, China

    Hao Cheng

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Cheng, H. Composite quantile estimation in PLS-SEM for environment sustainable development evaluation. Environ Dev Sustain 25, 6249–6268 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02300-y

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