Environmental governance’s effect on green total factor productivity in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

Zhigao Luo (), Yaxing Chen (), Zixiao Tang () and Jirui Yang ()
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Zhigao Luo: Chongqing Technology and Business University
Yaxing Chen: Chongqing Technology and Business University
Zixiao Tang: Chongqing Technology and Business University
Jirui Yang: SWUFE Research Institute of Development of “Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Area”

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 27, issue 7, No 98, 17557-17583

Abstract: Abstract The Yangtze River Economic Belt is a national strategy target in China, but there is a relative lack of empirical research concerning its development goals for green and high-quality development. Based on the SBM-undesirable and the GML index, this study, first, measures the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of provincial jurisdictions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and explores its evolution. Overall, the provincial jurisdictions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) have made progress in GTFP, with technological progress having contributed much more than the technical efficiency. The GTFP values between upstream, midstream and downstream varies large, showing greater volatility in terms of the time dimension. Then, with benchmark and threshold models, this study tests the relationship between provincial environmental governance and GTFP in the YREB. Empirical tests with panel data from provincial jurisdictions indicate a significant positive U-shaped relationship between them. The environmental governance intensity initially suppresses the GTFP enhancement, but after reaching a certain point, promotes it. Also, in reference to the nationwide samples, the GTFP values are decomposed to observe its drivers, and in the empirical estimations whether this nationally pilot zone have achieved green and high-quality development is weighed. Accordingly, this study makes relevant suggestions for improving GTFP.

Keywords: Yangtze River Economic Belt; Environmental governance; Green total factor productivity; GML Index; U-shaped relationship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-024-05247-4

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