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How Do Environmental Technology Standards Affect the Green Transformation? New Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiufeng Zhang

    (Business School, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China)

  • Yan Li

    (Business School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
    Post-Doctoral Mobile Research Station of School of Politics and Public Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China)

  • Ke Shi

    (Business School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China)

  • Yanchao Feng

    (Business School, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
    Post-Doctoral Mobile Research Station of School of Politics and Public Management, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China)

Abstract

During the period of high-quality development in China, environmental regulations have been regarded as powerful exogenous forces, especially for accelerating the green transformation of the manufacturing industry. Treating the first implementation of cleaner production industry standard policies in 2003 as a quasi-natural experiment, and employing the difference-in-differences ( DID ) model, this paper discusses the impacts of environmental technology standards on the green transformation of the manufacturing industry in China, with systematic consideration of three technological modification mechanisms, including terminal governance, capital renewal, and resource structure adjustments. The results show that: (1) environmental technology standards can have “win–win” effects, i.e., environmental technology standards can simultaneously improve the environmental performance and the economic performance; (2) the dynamic effects of environmental technology standards are proven in the parallel trend test; (3) environmental technology standards can not only promote the green transformation of the manufacturing industry directly, but can also mediate the effects of terminal governance, capital renewal, and resource structure adjustments. In summary, this paper makes four suggestions for government actions, namely re-examining command-and-control environmental regulations, paying attention to environmental regulation tools, changing the mechanism from technological modification to technological innovation, and updating environmental technology standards regularly.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiufeng Zhang & Yan Li & Ke Shi & Yanchao Feng, 2022. "How Do Environmental Technology Standards Affect the Green Transformation? New Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:5883-:d:813900
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jianshi Wang & Yu Cheng & Chengxin Wang, 2022. "Environmental Regulation, Scientific and Technological Innovation, and Industrial Structure Upgrading in the Yellow River Basin, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-17, December.

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