In the domain of globalization, the global value chain (GVC) is formed across diverse economies. Owing to the expansion of economic globalization and the resultant global trade liberalization, the geographical isolation of production and consumption has resulted in the transfer of polluting emissions from advanced economies to developing states. Developing economies, falling in the middle and low end of the GVC, have to strive hard to expand their production in the GVC, while simultaneously addressing the consequent environmental damage and attending to the core environmental concerns of sustainable growth, energy preservation and drastic cuts in CO2. This paper addresses how manufacturing subsidiaries can improve their low-carbon innovation ability and help to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage through the embedded GVC. Data were gathered employing interview and survey methods, 31 manufacturing companies and 56 enterprise groups across 16 Chinese provinces were selected as the case study. A partial least square structural equation modelling was adopted to analyse the responses. The results indicate that the embedded GVC significantly enhances low-carbon innovation capability and promotes a sustainable competitive advantage. This study proposes that companies should continuously identify high-quality resources from the GVC and discover ways of integrating internal and external carbon innovation resources to form innovation capabilities.

This study investigated the role of internet sources in depicting China's cultural soft image in Pakistan. Using mixed-method approach, it examined six Chinese culturally-oriented web sources and employed the conceptualization of Hartig (2016). Chinese cultural diplomacy in Pakistan was found engaging a wide range of actors, allowing for local actors to play active role, using modern media, and promoting cultural content interactively. The results suggest positive contribution of China Xinhua Urdu, Youlin Magazine, China Radio International Urdu and Pakistan China Institute internet sources. The Culture & Arts page of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and Nihao-Salam websites were found dormant. The results found females, older and more educated individuals to be more likely to perceive positively-oriented experiences about Chinese culture than their counterparts. The study highlights that more enriched means and improved content on the internet sources should be brought to attract more male, younger, ordinary, and less educated internet users.

Air pollution has been notoriously held accountable for a substantial number of deaths in several countries. Moreover, its negative impact on people's health and well-being has also been witnessed in countries where air pollution is below the recommended national levels. The urban cities of Pakistan are among the worst South Asian areas in terms of air pollution. Because of this problem, the health and well-being of citizens are affected. The present study investigates the impact of air pollution on urban residents' happiness and health. It analyzes their willingness to pay for pollution prevention and its determinants by employing the data obtained through a primary survey. Pakistanis are unaware of air pollution's effect on health and quality of life, therefore only 12.5% consider this problem very serious. The results confirm the significantly negative effect of air pollution on happiness. Concerning the willingness to pay, it is differentiated in the form of tax and social contribution. Pakistanis are willing to pay more in social contribution in return for different environmental attributes. The results show that only 13% of respondents are not willing to pay for income contribution to improve air quality reporting indifferent attitude and insufficient knowledge of the environment. Our findings suggest that their apprehension concerning the environment influences people's willingness to pay. The study concludes that despite Pakistan's underdeveloped economic stature and its poor and flexible budgetary allocation for the betterment of air quality, most Pakistanis showed their willingness to pay for environmental protection. The government and environmental organizations ought to generate consensus among the general population about environmental importance, individual responsibility, and social duties thereby lessening the free-rider problem and reducing air pollution for better social welfare.

Globalization is very important for companies that want to compete in the global arena. Corporate culture is crucial for the success of companies, and accordingly, globalization is important because it affects corporate values and norms. It creates a global arena where values and norms are being intertwined. There are positive values from globalization, which are human rights, feminist values, environmental values, and negative values, which are corruption, greed, alienation and etc. Opportunities for companies, regarding globalization, is creating cooperation and long-lasting bond with companies abroad and increasing their target market. Globalization, like any other trend in history, can be used by companies as an opportunity or it can be a missed chance.