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Does high-speed rail improve urban carbon emission efficiency in China?

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  • Li, Xiang
  • Cheng, Zhonghua

Abstract

Based on various quasi-natural experimental high-speed rail scenarios in China, this paper both selects the panel data of 285 cities from 2003 to 2018 and adopts the Multi-time Difference-in-Differences method to analyze the impact of high-speed rail on urban carbon emission efficiency. Following this, the possible transmission mechanisms are explored. The results show that high-speed rail can significantly improve urban carbon emission efficiency with the conclusion still valid after conducting a series of robustness tests. The heterogeneity results indicate that the promoting effects of high-speed rail on urban carbon emission efficiency are more significant in non-resource-based cities and large cities. Further analyses of the transmission mechanisms show that high-speed rail may improve urban carbon emission efficiency through technological innovation, structural optimization, a strengthening of environmental regulations and a weakening of market segmentation.

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  • Li, Xiang & Cheng, Zhonghua, 2022. "Does high-speed rail improve urban carbon emission efficiency in China?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:84:y:2022:i:c:s0038012122000933
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2022.101308
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