The Integration of Traditional Transportation Infrastructure and Informatization Development: How Does It Affect Carbon Emissions?

Nian Wang and Yingming Zhu ()
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Nian Wang: National Demonstration Center for Experimental Economics and Management Education, Guangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanning 530007, China
Yingming Zhu: Business School, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, Nanjing 211171, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-23

Abstract: With the advent of the “Information Era”, the development of an integrated infrastructure, which involves the integration of traditional transportation infrastructure and informatization development, has become a new impetus for economic growth. Meanwhile, its environmental performance remains uncovered. Using data from 30 Chinese provinces between 2013 and 2020, this study designed an index system and constructed the coupling coordination degree model to assess the development level of integrated infrastructure. The regression model was established to examine the nonlinear effect of the integrated infrastructure on carbon emissions. The influencing mechanism was also discussed through identifying the impacts of integrated infrastructure on the energy intensity, industrial structure, and technological innovation. The evaluation of the evolutionary trend showed that the level of integrated infrastructure continues to improve and displays a feature of “higher highs, lower lows”, although the regional disparity was significant. The regression analysis showed that there was an inverted U–shaped relationship between integrated infrastructure and CO 2 emissions. It is also found that most provinces were below the turning point. In the mechanism analysis section, we can demonstrate that integrated infrastructure can enhance energy intensity, which might hamper reductions in emissions. However, an integrated infrastructure facilitates the development of tertiary industry, which can lead to lower carbon emissions. Based on the conclusions, some insightful policy implications are provided.

Keywords: integrated infrastructure; traditional transportation infrastructure; informatization development; carbon emissions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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