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Smart city pilot policy and regional green and low-carbon development

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  • Yang, Guohua
  • Yang, Lihua

Abstract

This paper employs the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) method to systematically evaluate the impact of the smart city pilot policy on urban green and low-carbon development and its underlying mechanisms, based on panel data from 288 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2023. The research findings indicate that: the smart city pilot policy can effectively reduce carbon emission intensity; green total factor productivity plays a crucial mediating role in policy transmission; and there are regional differences in policy effects, with significant impacts observed in central China but not in the eastern and western regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Guohua & Yang, Lihua, 2025. "Smart city pilot policy and regional green and low-carbon development," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PE).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:85:y:2025:i:pe:s1544612325014783
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.108223
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    References listed on IDEAS

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