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Urban sprawl and environmentally sensitive productivity: Is urban sprawl a green spread?

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  • Fan, Meiting
  • Ma, Kaili
  • Shao, Shuai
  • Wang, Hui
  • Zhang, Ying

Abstract

Urban sprawl often occurs during the process of urbanization. This paper uses environmentally sensitive total factor productivity (ETFP) growth to characterize economic-environmental coordination, and investigates how urban sprawl shapes ETFP growth by combining macro-level and micro-level data from China during 2001‒2019. Employing a modified Data Envelope Analysis (DEA) model to calculate ETFP growth, we find that urban sprawl has an inverted U-shaped effect on ETFP growth. The negative effect of urban sprawl on ETFP growth is more pronounced in developed cities, tertiary-industry-oriented cities, and cities with slow urban population growth, low road densities, and a high dependence on land finance. The inverted U-shaped impact of urban sprawl on ETFP growth stems from the nonlinear effects of urban sprawl on technological innovation and energy efficiency. To balance economic growth and environmental protection, it is suggested to foster compact urbanization through urban renewal and enhancing the economic density of sub-centers.

Suggested Citation

  • Fan, Meiting & Ma, Kaili & Shao, Shuai & Wang, Hui & Zhang, Ying, 2025. "Urban sprawl and environmentally sensitive productivity: Is urban sprawl a green spread?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 895-914.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:74:y:2025:i:c:p:895-914
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2025.06.011
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