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The role of fiscal policies in supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy: Evidence from the Chinese shipping industry

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  • Hu, Wenfa
  • He, Xinhua

Abstract

The Green Economy Initiative aims to grow our economy without increasing carbon emissions, requiring all industries to transition to a low-carbon economy. As one of the oldest industries, the shipping industry is accountable for transporting 80–90% of goods worldwide, consuming more fossil fuels, and emitting more pollution than ever. Many nations have deliberated policies to promote the shipping industry transition to a low-carbon economy. To investigate the role of various fiscal policies in supporting low-carbon transition, several panel regression models are designed to test their relationships based on data from the shipping industry in 22 Chinese provinces from 2007 to 2022. Then a vector autoregression model is developed to test their bidirectional dynamic relationships between fiscal policies and low-carbon transition. We find that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between tax-based policies and low-carbon transition, transfer payment policies have an N-shaped effect on low-carbon transition, and the digital technology application plays a strong moderating role, reducing the negative impact of fiscal policies, and accelerating low-carbon transition in the shipping industry. These findings help policymakers how to make optimal fiscal policies to promote low-carbon transition in the shipping industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Hu, Wenfa & He, Xinhua, 2024. "The role of fiscal policies in supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy: Evidence from the Chinese shipping industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:179:y:2024:i:c:s0965856423003609
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2023.103940
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