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The Effect of Environmental Information Disclosure on Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Quasi-Natural Experiments on Cities in China

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  • Xiangyan Meng

    (School of Insurance, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China)

  • Mingyuan Tang

    (Department of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China)

  • Fanchao Kong

    (School of Statistics and Mathematics, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China)

  • Shuai Li

    (School of Statistics and Mathematics, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China)

Abstract

The relationship between environmental regulation and green economic growth has become a focal issue in China. This study utilizes the environmental information disclosure (EID) policy as a quasi-natural experiment in the Chinese context. Using a sample of 280 Chinese cities from 2003–2019 and measuring urban green total factor productivity (GTFP), the propensity score matching and difference-in-difference methods are applied to assess the impact mechanism of EID on urban GTFP in China. The results show that, first, the urban GTFP showed a decreasing trend from 2003 to 2008 and a general increasing trend from 2009 to 2019. The EID policy had a significantly positive impact on GTFP, and this finding remained robust after a series of tests. Second, the policy effect of EID was more pronounced in large and medium-sized cities than in small cities and eastern and central regions. The mechanism analysis shows that a positive effect from EID on GTFP in cities can be achieved through green technological innovation and industrial agglomeration.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangyan Meng & Mingyuan Tang & Fanchao Kong & Shuai Li, 2022. "The Effect of Environmental Information Disclosure on Green Total Factor Productivity: Evidence from Quasi-Natural Experiments on Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13079-:d:940398
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiuyun Yang & Qi Han, 2023. "Nonlinear Effects of Environmental Data Disclosure on Urban Pollution Emissions: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.

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