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Environmental regulation, green innovation, and international competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises in China: From the perspective of heterogeneous regulatory tools

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  • Yuanhong Hu
  • Sheng Sun
  • Yixin Dai

Abstract

Based on combined data from the China Patent Database, China Industrial Enterprise Database, and China Customs Import and Export Database for the period 2004–2010, this study investigates the impact of heterogeneous environmental regulations on the export technological sophistication of manufacturing enterprises. Given deepening international market segmentation of production and the increasing proportion of intermediate trade, and compared with the traditional method based on exports, the export technological sophistication calculated here, based on value-added, is closer to the true level. Since there has been no in-depth comparative study on the relationship between heterogeneous environmental regulation and export technological sophistication, this study fills the gap. The results show that all three regulation types bear a U-shaped impact on export technological sophistication. Command-control regulation exhibits a restraining effect on mixed trade, eastern, and foreign-funded enterprises. Market-incentive regulation promotes processing and mixed trade enterprises as well as domestic and foreign-funded enterprises. Voluntary-participation regulation promotes all enterprises with different trade patterns and ownership. The mechanism analysis shows that command-control and market-participation environmental regulations affect export technological sophistication through the green invention and green utility innovation channels, while, additionally, market-incentive environmental regulation affects export technological sophistication through the green design innovation channel. Considering the environmental governance issues, the policy implications for enhancing the entire industrial chain and enterprises’ export competitiveness are clear. Due to the unclear functions and powers of competent departments and a rigid threshold, command-control regulation is not conducive to cleaner production technology and the promotion of enterprises’ export competitiveness; it should thus be discouraged. Although both market-incentive and voluntary-participation regulations have promoted cleaner production technology and enterprises’ competitiveness significantly, the environmental tax system requires continuous improvement. The government should continue to raise public involvement in environmental protection to enrich the channels and forms of environmental management.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuanhong Hu & Sheng Sun & Yixin Dai, 2021. "Environmental regulation, green innovation, and international competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises in China: From the perspective of heterogeneous regulatory tools," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-28, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0249169
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249169
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    2. Caglar, Abdullah Emre & Askin, Bekir Emre, 2023. "A path towards green revolution: How do competitive industrial performance and renewable energy consumption influence environmental quality indicators?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 273-280.
    3. Yujia Liu & Ligang Liu & Ying Li, 2023. "Executive Hometown Identity and Green Innovation in Enterprises of Heavy Polluting Industries—A Dual Perspective Based on Conscious Motivation and Resource Access," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
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    5. Le Yang & Jiahao Zhang & Yufeng Zhang, 2021. "Environmental Regulations and Corporate Green Innovation in China: The Role of City Leaders’ Promotion Pressure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Yuanhong Hu & Min Jiang & Sheng Sun & Yixin Dai, 2022. "Does Trade Facilitation Promote Export Technological Sophistication? Evidence From the European Transition Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, June.
    7. Bingqiang Li & Shan Wang & Nannan Dong & Jinzhi Li & Xi Li & He Yu, 2023. "Empirical Analysis of Subsidy Industrial Policy’s Effect on Export Innovation in the Chinese Manufacturing," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.

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