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A Tripartite Evolutionary Game Study on the Carbon Emission Reduction of Shipping Enterprises Considering Government and Shipper Behavior

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  • Jing Liang

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China)

  • Yuying Dou

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China)

  • Yatong Song

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China)

Abstract

This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving governments, shipping enterprises, and shippers to analyze the dynamic interactions and strategic decision-making regarding carbon emission reduction within the shipping industry. The model examines how subsidies, penalties, and supervisory mechanisms influence stakeholders’ behavioral trajectories and equilibrium outcomes. The key findings reveal that the government’s active regulatory strategy evolves inversely with the probabilities of proactive emission reduction by enterprises and shipper supervision, while the likelihood of enterprises adopting low-carbon strategies increases with governmental and shipper engagement. Under a single reward-and-penalty framework, only subsidies can guide the studied system toward an evolutionary equilibrium characterized by active regulation, proactive emission reduction, and supervision. In a mixed reward-and-penalty scenario, increasing subsidy levels is crucial to achieving an equilibrium between passive regulation, proactive emission reduction, and supervision. Our sensitivity analysis highlights that subsidies for enterprises and shippers have a greater impact than penalties, although excessive subsidies may strain governmental budgets. Additional emission reduction costs and benefits are also key factors that affect the carbon emission reduction strategies of shipping enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Liang & Yuying Dou & Yatong Song, 2025. "A Tripartite Evolutionary Game Study on the Carbon Emission Reduction of Shipping Enterprises Considering Government and Shipper Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3895-:d:1642730
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Sufeng Li & Chenxin Dong & Lei Yang & Xinpeng Gao & Wei Wei & Ming Zhao & Weiqi Xia, 2022. "Research on Evolutionary Game Strategy Selection and Simulation Research of Carbon Emission Reduction of Government and Enterprises under the “Dual Carbon” Goal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Xiaoping Wu & Peng Liu & Qi Wei, 2021. "Analysis on Evolutionary Stability Strategies of Carbon Emission of Logistics Enterprises Based on Carbon Tax," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2021, pages 1-11, December.
    4. Xinjia Gao & Aoshuang Zhu & Qifeng Yu, 2023. "Exploring the Carbon Abatement Strategies in Shipping Using System Dynamics Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
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    6. Zhibo He & Dan Wang & Jiawei Li & Wanwei Fang & Yilin Yang & Mingjun Ji, 2024. "An Evolutionary Stability Study of Zero-Carbon Transition for Shipping Enterprises Considering Dynamic Penalty and Carbon Quota Trading Mechanisms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, December.
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