IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/ijfiec/v31y2026i2p2950-2963.html

Effects of Financial Agglomeration on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence From the Yangtze River Delta in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yunfeng Yan
  • Aodong Jiao
  • Yun Zhang
  • Sajid Anwar

Abstract

This study examines the effect of financial agglomeration on green technology innovation and its spatial spillovers across 27 cities in China's Yangtze River Delta from 2009 to 2023. Financial agglomeration significantly promotes green technology innovation, with heterogeneous effects shaped by local conditions. This positive impact is amplified in cities facing tighter financing constraints and those with stronger human capital infrastructure. In contrast, more stringent environmental regulations weaken the marginal effect of financial agglomeration on innovation. We also found positive spatial spillovers: financial agglomeration in one city promotes green innovation in neighbouring areas. The results highlight the importance of aligning financial development with local institutional and structural conditions. Policymakers should enhance the allocative efficiency of financial clusters, invest in human capital, and improve cross‐city coordination to support green innovation diffusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Yunfeng Yan & Aodong Jiao & Yun Zhang & Sajid Anwar, 2026. "Effects of Financial Agglomeration on Green Technology Innovation: Evidence From the Yangtze River Delta in China," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 2950-2963, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:ijfiec:v:31:y:2026:i:2:p:2950-2963
    DOI: 10.1002/ijfe.70055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijfe.70055
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/ijfe.70055?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wen, Fenghua & Chen, Meng & Zhang, Yun & Miao, Xiao, 2023. "Oil price uncertainty and audit fees: Evidence from the energy industry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. Hu, Hui & Qi, Shaozhou & Chen, Yuanzhi, 2023. "Using green technology for a better tomorrow: How enterprises and government utilize the carbon trading system and incentive policies," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Wu, Yan & Yang, Yong & Mickiewicz, Tomasz, 2023. "Corruption, the digital sectors, and the profitability of foreign subsidiaries in emerging markets," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    4. Fard, Amirhossein & Javadi, Siamak & Kim, Incheol, 2020. "Environmental regulation and the cost of bank loans: International evidence," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Tania Babina & Asaf Bernstein & Filippo Mezzanotti & Holger Mueller, 2023. "Financial Disruptions and the Organization of Innovation: Evidence from the Great Depression," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 36(11), pages 4271-4317.
    6. Ross Levine, 1997. "Financial Development and Economic Growth: Views and Agenda," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(2), pages 688-726, June.
    7. Maryann Feldman & Frederick Guy & Simona Iammarino, 2021. "Regional income disparities, monopoly and finance," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 14(1), pages 25-49.
    8. Wang, Jianda & Dong, Xiucheng & Dong, Kangyin, 2022. "How does ICT agglomeration affect carbon emissions? The case of Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    9. Dian, Jie & Song, Tian & Li, Shenglan, 2024. "Facilitating or inhibiting? Spatial effects of the digital economy affecting urban green technology innovation," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    10. Paola Rossi & Diego Scalise, 2022. "Financial development and growth in European regions," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(2), pages 389-411, March.
    11. Tadesse, Solomon, 2002. "Financial Architecture and Economic Performance: International Evidence," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 429-454, October.
    12. Nguyen, Yen Ngoc & Brown, Kym & Skully, Michael, 2019. "Impact of finance on growth: Does it vary with development levels or cyclical conditions?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 1195-1209.
    13. Charles J. Hadlock & Joshua R. Pierce, 2010. "New Evidence on Measuring Financial Constraints: Moving Beyond the KZ Index," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(5), pages 1909-1940.
    14. Zhang, Yun & Liu, Yun & Tang, Yicheng & Gao, Qun, 2024. "Large shareholders' stock selling and corporate performance: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    15. Sumit Agarwal, 2010. "Distance and Private Information in Lending," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(7), pages 2757-2788, July.
    16. Ma, Kelin, 2023. "Digital inclusive finance and corporate green technology innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    17. Thomas J. Holmes & John J. Stevens, 2004. "Geographic concentration and establishment size: analysis in an alternative economic geography model," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 227-250, June.
    18. Karl Wennberg & Göran Lindqvist, 2010. "The effect of clusters on the survival and performance of new firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 221-241, April.
    19. Yan, Jiajia & Zhang, Chenyan, 2024. "Financial institution agglomeration and corporate labor allocation efficiency—Based on the context of government debt expansion," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. Lin, Boqiang & Xie, Yongjing, 2023. "Positive or negative? R&D subsidies and green technology innovation: Evidence from China's renewable energy industry," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 148-156.
    21. Dirk Crass & Christian Rammer & Birgit Aschhoff, 2019. "Geographical clustering and the effectiveness of public innovation programs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1784-1815, December.
    22. Xin Li & Siwei Wang & Xue Lu & Fei Guo, 2023. "Quantity or quality? The effect of green finance on enterprise green technology innovation," European Journal of Innovation Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 28(3), pages 1114-1140, November.
    23. Liu, Ming & Shan, Yanfei & Li, Yemei, 2022. "Study on the effect of carbon trading regulation on green innovation and heterogeneity analysis from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    24. Ellison, Glenn & Glaeser, Edward L, 1997. "Geographic Concentration in U.S. Manufacturing Industries: A Dartboard Approach," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 105(5), pages 889-927, October.
    25. Krugman, Paul, 1991. "Increasing Returns and Economic Geography," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(3), pages 483-499, June.
    26. Chen, Huanyu & Yi, Jizheng & Chen, Aibin & Peng, Duanxiang & Yang, Jieqiong, 2023. "Green technology innovation and CO2 emission in China: Evidence from a spatial-temporal analysis and a nonlinear spatial durbin model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    27. Song, Yang & Pang, Xiaoqian & Zhang, Zhiyuan & Sahut, Jean-Michel, 2024. "Can the new energy demonstration city policy promote corporate green innovation capability?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    28. Ding Hu & Xianming Fang & Yuting Meng DiGiovanni, 2023. "Technological progress, financial constrains, and digital financial inclusion," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1693-1721, December.
    29. Skare, Marinko & Gavurova, Beata & Sinkovic, Dean, 2023. "Regional aspects of financial development and renewable energy: A cross-sectional study in 214 countries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1142-1157.
    30. Yinyin Wen & Min Zhao & Genli Tang & Xiaoxiao Zhou & Xingchen Hu & Li Sui, 2023. "How does financial agglomeration affect green development? Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta of China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 135-156, March.
    31. Christoffersen, Susan E.K. & Sarkissian, Sergei, 2009. "City size and fund performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(2), pages 252-275, May.
    32. Yu, Changhua, 2015. "Evaluating international financial integration in a center-periphery economy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 129-144.
    33. Britta Klagge & Ron Martin, 2005. "Decentralized versus centralized financial systems: is there a case for local capital markets?," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 5(4), pages 387-421, August.
    34. Maryann Feldman & Frederick Guy & Simona Iammarino, 2019. "Regional income disparities, monopoly & finance," Working Papers 43, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research, revised Feb 2021.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xie, Rui & Fu, Wei & Yao, Siling & Zhang, Qi, 2021. "Effects of financial agglomeration on green total factor productivity in Chinese cities: Insights from an empirical spatial Durbin model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    2. Zhang, Yingxin & Zang, Wenjiao & Sun, Chunxing, 2026. "Riding the terrain: Geographic influence on household adoption of digital finance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    3. Pardy, Martina, 2025. "Multinationals and intra-regional innovation concentration," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 127983, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Wenwen Wang & Muqing Sun & Dong Zhou, 2025. "The impact of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone on corporate financial constraints in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Yin, Zhujia & Deng, Rantian & Xia, Jiejin & Zhao, Lili, 2024. "Climate risk and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Tan, Weijie & Shen, Minghao & Pang, Yubiao & Liu, Yiqian, 2024. "Bank agglomeration and corporate environmental responsibility performance: Evidence from Chinese bank branch data," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Pardy, Martina & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2025. "Trade Ties and Economic Divides: Trade and Income Inequality in the Regions of Europe," CEPR Discussion Papers 20255, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    8. Alan Manning, 2008. "The Plant Size-Place Effect: Agglomeration and Monopsony in Labour Markets," Working Papers 1109, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    9. Carla Costa & Rui Baptista, 2023. "Knowledge inheritance and performance of spinouts," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 13(1), pages 29-55, March.
    10. Qu, Chenyao & Shao, Jun & Shi, Zhenkai, 2020. "Does financial agglomeration promote the increase of energy efficiency in China?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    11. Pardy, Martina, 2025. "Multinationals and intra-regional innovation concentration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(6).
    12. Brenner Thomas, 2008. "Cluster dynamics and policy implications," ZFW – Advances in Economic Geography, De Gruyter, vol. 52(1), pages 146-162, October.
    13. Di Cataldo, Marco & Renzullo, Elena & Rodríguez-Pose, Andrés, 2026. "Cohesion or collusion? EU funds in places with corrupt local institutions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    14. Feng Huang & Jie Gao, 2022. "Customer and Tax Avoidance: How Does Customer Geographic Proximity Affect a Supplier’s Tax Avoidance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-30, November.
    15. Delgado, Mercedes & Porter, Michael E. & Stern, Scott, 2014. "Clusters, convergence, and economic performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(10), pages 1785-1799.
    16. Zhang, Jinkang & Zhang, Linlin & Wang, Shan & Zhang, Dazhuang, 2025. "Firm digitalization and inter-firm financing along the supply chain," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 98-116.
    17. Fenghua Wen & Jinmei Ju, 2026. "Climate Risk Exposure and Corporate Internationalisation: Evidence From China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 66(1), pages 695-721, March.
    18. Alan Manning, 2010. "The plant size-place effect: agglomeration and monopsony in labour markets," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 10(5), pages 717-744, September.
    19. Tao Wang & Shuhong Wang & Wei Ding & Huiwen Guo, 2023. "Can Technological Innovation and Financial Agglomeration Promote the Growth of Real Economy? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-17, November.
    20. Gao, Ting, 2004. "Regional industrial growth: evidence from Chinese industries," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 101-124, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:ijfiec:v:31:y:2026:i:2:p:2950-2963. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.interscience.wiley.com/jpages/1076-9307/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.