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The Relationship between Environmental Regulation, Green-Technology Innovation and Green Total-Factor Productivity—Evidence from 279 Cities in China

Author

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  • Yuhua Ma

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Tong Lin

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Qifang Xiao

    (College of Economics, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China)

Abstract

This paper employs the SBM-DDF method to measure the index of green total-factor productivity (GTFP), based on the panel data of 279 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2019, and constructs a spatial Durbin model (SDM) and a threshold effect to empirically test the effects of dual environmental-regulations and green technological innovation on GTFP. The results are as follows: (1) the SDM supports a nonlinear contribution of dual environmental-regulations spillover to GTFP. The relationship between formal environmental-regulation and GTFP is an inverted U-shape, while a U-shaped nonlinear relationship is found between informal environmental regulation and GTFP. (2) Green technology innovation has a significant negative moderating effect on the process of dual environmental-regulations affecting GTFP in local regions, but a positive moderating effect on informal environmental regulation in neighboring regions. (3) There is a significant green technology innovation threshold effect of dual environmental-regulations affecting GTFP. Specifically, the promotion effect of dual environmental-regulations on GFFP gradually increases as the level of green technology innovation increases.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuhua Ma & Tong Lin & Qifang Xiao, 2022. "The Relationship between Environmental Regulation, Green-Technology Innovation and Green Total-Factor Productivity—Evidence from 279 Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16290-:d:994175
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    References listed on IDEAS

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