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Human Capital, Trade Competitiveness and Environmental Efficiency Convergence Across Asia Pacific Countries

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  • Florence Appiah-Twum

    (Jiangsu University)

  • Xingle Long

    (Jiangsu University)

Abstract

This study mainly investigates 14 Asia Pacific economies’ environmental efficiency. Departing from previous studies ignoring environmental technology heterogeneity, we evaluate environmental efficiency through metafrontier super epsilon based model (EBM). We compare environmental efficiency convergence across different regions via unit root test and truncated regressions. We analyze how trade competitiveness impact environmental efficiency. We also explore effect of green technology and human capital on environmental efficiency from the perspective of endogenous growth. Our findings indicate that stochastic and absolute β-convergence tendencies were confirmed. Human capital can enhance environmental efficiency convergence. Trade competitiveness showed a mixed impact on environmental efficiency convergence, confirming scale, composition and technical effects. It is better to enhance human capital, strengthening environmental regulations under international competition as well as relentlessly pursuing green industrialization across Asia Pacific countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Florence Appiah-Twum & Xingle Long, 2023. "Human Capital, Trade Competitiveness and Environmental Efficiency Convergence Across Asia Pacific Countries," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 85(1), pages 109-132, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:enreec:v:85:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10640-023-00758-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10640-023-00758-6
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    2. Sara Majid & Xin Zhang & Muhammad Bilawal Khaskheli & Feng Hong & Patricia Jie Hung King & Imran Haider Shamsi, 2023. "Eco-Efficiency, Environmental and Sustainable Innovation in Recycling Energy and Their Effect on Business Performance: Evidence from European SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Destek, Mehmet Akif & Hossain, Mohammad Razib & Khan, Zeeshan, 2023. "Premature Deindustrialization and Environmental Degradation," MPRA Paper 117737, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Xu, Guangyue & Zang, Lanmei & Schwarz, Peter & Yang, Hualiu, 2023. "Achieving Chinaʼs carbon neutrality goal by economic growth rate adjustment and low-carbon energy structure," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Ahakwa, Isaac & Xu, Yi & Tackie, Evelyn Agba, 2023. "Greening human capital towards environmental quality in Ghana: Insight from the novel dynamic ARDL simulation approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

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