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An Empirical Study of the Role of Higher Education in Building a Green Economy

Author

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  • Wenjuan Gao

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Xiaohao Ding

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    The Institute of Educational Economics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Ran Chen

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

  • Weifang Min

    (Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    The Institute of Educational Economics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    National School of Development, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

The relationship between higher education and economic development has long been emphasized in the research on economics and education. Much of the existing literature focuses on the gross domestic product (GDP) as a core measure of a nation’s economic accounting system, but this may neglect some negative effects of production, such as resource depletion and environmental damage. Under such circumstances, the concept of “green GDP” was conceived to consider environmental influence simultaneously with the economy. It is, however, only theoretically feasible due to the complexity in calculating environmental pollution and the unavailability of data about resource consumption. Considering the measurement problems, this paper proposes a new approach to indirectly estimate green GDP. Using this approach, we mainly explore the impact of higher education on economic growth, especially regarding the development of a green economy. Results show that (a) higher education plays a significant role in building a green economy, and (b) green GDP is more responsive to changes in higher education than the traditional GDP. This study provides empirical evidence for the substantial contribution that higher education makes in promoting green economic growth to achieve comprehensive sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjuan Gao & Xiaohao Ding & Ran Chen & Weifang Min, 2019. "An Empirical Study of the Role of Higher Education in Building a Green Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:23:p:6823-:d:292925
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    Cited by:

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    3. Haiying Xu & Wei-Ling Hsu & Teen-Hang Meen & Ju Hua Zhu, 2020. "Can Higher Education, Economic Growth and Innovation Ability Improve Each Other?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-18, March.
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    5. Elżbieta Izabela Szczepankiewicz & Jan Fazlagić & Windham Loopesko, 2021. "A Conceptual Model for Developing Climate Education in Sustainability Management Education System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, January.
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    7. Nihal Ahmed & Adnan Ahmed Sheikh & Bilal Hassan & Sajjad Nawaz Khan & Ricardo Cosio Borda & Juan Martín Campos Huamán & Piotr Senkus, 2022. "The Role of Educating the Labor Force in Sustaining a Green Economy in MINT Countries: Panel Symmetric and Asymmetric Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.

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