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Asymmetric effects of eco-innovation and human capital development in realizing environmental sustainability in China: evidence from quantile ARDL framework

Author

Listed:
  • Cheng Jin
  • Asif Razzaq
  • Faiza Saleem
  • Avik Sinha

Abstract

The present study investigates the dynamic and asymmetric impacts of eco-innovation and human capital development on ambient pollution by validating the Environment Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in China from 1988Q1 to 2018Q4. The findings confirm non-normality and structural breaks in data. Thus, Quantile Autoregressive Distributive Lag (QARDL) model and Granger Causality-in-Quantiles are applied to address non-linearity and structural breaks. The long-run results exhibit that eco-innovation and human capital have a significant negative relationship with carbon emissions, mainly from lower (0.05) to medium (0.5) quantiles and medium (0.50) to higher (0.95) emissions quantile. Moreover, economic growth contributes to higher emissions across all quantiles. In contrast, the square of economic growth has a significant negative association with emissions, confirming the validity of EKC from medium (0.40) to higher (0.95) quantiles. Lastly, Granger causality confirms a two-way causality between eco-innovation, human capital, and carbon emissions, and a one-way causality from human capital, economic growth to carbon emissions. These findings offer valuable policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Cheng Jin & Asif Razzaq & Faiza Saleem & Avik Sinha, 2022. "Asymmetric effects of eco-innovation and human capital development in realizing environmental sustainability in China: evidence from quantile ARDL framework," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(1), pages 4947-4970, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:reroxx:v:35:y:2022:i:1:p:4947-4970
    DOI: 10.1080/1331677X.2021.2019598
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    1. Haider Mahmood & Maham Furqan & Muhammad Shahid Hassan & Soumen Rej, 2023. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Hypothesis in China: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-32, April.
    2. Yang Sun & Elizabeth Stephen, 2026. "Sustainable Development Pathways: How Fiscal Policy, Green Innovation, and Environmental Governance Shape Ecological Footprints in G‐20 Economies?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 170-181, March.
    3. Özen Akçakanat & Gökhan Özkul & Ozan Özdemir & Muhammed Kasım, 2025. "The Impact of Environmental Technologies and Environmental Policy Stringency on Environmental Degradation," Journal of Research in Economics, Politics & Finance, Ersan ERSOY, vol. 10(SI), pages 318-335.
    4. Yang, Changjin & Qi, Huarui & Jia, Lijun & Wang, Yanjiao & Huang, Dan, 2024. "Impact of digital technologies and financial development on green growth: Role of mineral resources, institutional quality, and human development in South Asia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Andrew Phiri & Simba Mhaka & Lovemore Taonezvi, 2024. "Too poor to be clean? A quantile ARDL assessment of the environmental Kuznets curve in SADC countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 27301-27323, November.
    6. Goktug Sahin & Afsin Sahin, 2023. "An Empirical Examination of Asymmetry on Exchange Rate Spread Using the Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) Model," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25, January.
    7. Obiakor, Rowland Tochukwu & Uche, Emmanuel & Das, Narasingha, 2022. "Is structural innovativeness a panacea for healthier environments? Evidence from developing countries," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    8. Wang, Zhuo & Yen-Ku, Kuo & Li, Zeyun & An, Nguyen Binh & Abdul-Samad, Zulkiflee, 2022. "The transition of renewable energy and ecological sustainability through environmental policy stringency: Estimations from advance panel estimators," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 70-80.
    9. Chengde You & Shoukat Iqbal Khattak & Manzoor Ahmad, 2024. "Impact of Innovation in Solar Photovoltaic Energy Generation, Distribution, or Transmission-Related Technologies on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in China," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 3600-3634, March.
    10. Geng, Yaxin & Rao, Pinyang & Sharif, Arshian, 2022. "Natural resource management and ecological sustainability: Dynamic role of social disparity and human development in G10 Economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    11. Cai, Helen Huifen & Yuan, Qiong & Tang, Shirley & Nguyen, Quang & Dai, Jie & Zheng, Wenxiu, 2025. "The moderating role of green innovation and ecofriendly goods in growth-greenhouse gas Nexus: A new policy dimension," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    12. Agha Amad Nabi & Farhan Ahmed & Fayaz Hussain Tunio & Muhammad Hafeez & Daniela Haluza, 2025. "Assessing the Impact of Green Environmental Policy Stringency on Eco-Innovation and Green Finance in Pakistan: A Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) Analysis for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-18, January.
    13. Du, Ling & Jiang, Hua & Adebayo, Tomiwa Sunday & Awosusi, Abraham Ayobamiji & Razzaq, Asif, 2022. "Asymmetric effects of high-tech industry and renewable energy on consumption-based carbon emissions in MINT countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1269-1280.
    14. Shazia Shaheen Shaikh & Nabila Amin & Muhammad Salman Shabbir & Huaming Song, 2025. "Going Green in ASEAN: Assessing the Role of Eco‐Innovation, Green Energy, Industrialization, and Environmental Taxes in Achieving Carbon Neutrality," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(3), pages 3596-3614, June.
    15. Li, Xuetao & Zhang, Minqi & Xin, Xing & Yang, Chengying & Zhang, Yonghong & Dai, Jianglai, 2025. "Advancing renewable energy innovation through digital technology and supply chain digitization," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    16. Sun, Yanlei & Wang, Siyao & Xing, Zhanlei, 2023. "Do international trade diversification, intellectual capital, and renewable energy transition ensure effective natural resources management in BRICST region," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    17. Tomiwa Sunday Adebayo & Ugur Korkut Pata & Seyi Saint Akadiri, 2024. "A comparison of CO2 emissions, load capacity factor, and ecological footprint for Thailand’s environmental sustainability," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 2203-2223, January.
    18. Abdullah Abdulmohsen Alfalih, 2025. "Human Capabilities and Governance Mechanisms as Catalysts for Green Energy Supply: Insights from Natural Resource–Rich Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 5453-5478, March.
    19. Chien, FengSheng & Paramaiah, Ch & joseph, Robinson & Pham, Hong Chuong & Phan, Thi Thu Hien & Ngo, Thanh Quang, 2023. "The impact of eco-innovation, trade openness, financial development, green energy and government governance on sustainable development in ASEAN countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 259-268.
    20. Chu, Chien-Chi & Yunis, Manal & Huang, Xiying & Mi, Yingye & Wu, Yida & Ji, Yun, 2024. "Examining the nexus of mineral resources, technology adoption, and economic expansion in advancing sustainable development in OECD economies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    21. Uche, Emmanuel & Das, Narasingha & Bera, Pinki & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier, 2023. "Understanding the imperativeness of environmental-related technological innovations in the FDI – Environmental performance nexus," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 285-294.

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    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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