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Has Central Environmental Protection Inspection Promoted High-Quality Economic Development?—A Case Study from China

Author

Listed:
  • Haoran Li

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Min Zhou

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Qing Xia

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Xiaoru Hao

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Jian Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

Abstract

Environmental regulatory policies are crucial to the high-quality development of China’s economy. Can central environmental protection inspection, another major innovation in China’s environmental regulation policy, significantly contribute to high-quality economic development? To address this question, this paper is the first time to intensely discuss the relationship between central environmental protection supervision and the high-quality development of China’s urban economy. The research level is expanded from the previous micro-enterprise level to the macro level. Starting from the city, the main body of green innovation, and using the propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods, we test the impact of central environmental protection inspection on high-quality economic development. A preassessment at the regional level reveals that the green total factor productivity of the inspected cities is significantly higher than that of the non-inspected cities, and parallel-trend tests and placebo tests also support the result. Subsequently, the persistence of the policy impact is further analyzed, and the results show a significant impact only in the year of policy implementation. Finally, the heterogeneity analysis shows that central environmental protection inspection can significantly promote high-quality economic development in cities in the eastern region, but has a significant inhibitory effect on the western region.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoran Li & Min Zhou & Qing Xia & Xiaoru Hao & Jian Wang, 2022. "Has Central Environmental Protection Inspection Promoted High-Quality Economic Development?—A Case Study from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:18:p:11318-:d:910846
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Huixiang Zeng & Yuyao Shao & Ning Ding & Limin Zheng & Jinling Zhao, 2025. "Internal and External Cultivation to Drive Enterprises’ Green Transformation: Dual Perspectives of Vertical Supervision and Environmental Self-Discipline," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-35, August.

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