Technological Innovation, Production Efficiency, and Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Shenzhen in China

Sheng Zhang, Meng Xu, Yifu Yang and Zeyu Song
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Sheng Zhang: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Meng Xu: Department of Mathematics, School of Science, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100091, China
Yifu Yang: School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
Zeyu Song: Shanxi Urban & Rural Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd., Taiyuan 030024, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-12

Abstract: Shenzhen is a national sustainable development innovation demonstration zone, with the theme of innovation leading the sustainable development of megacities. This manuscript studies technological innovation, production efficiency, and sustainable development and explores the impact of their relationship on Shenzhen. The benchmark test shows a significant negative correlation between the inefficiency of production, labor levels, investment levels, technical levels, and socioeconomic status. From 2001 to 2019, the production efficiencies of 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province were used as the research object. The Cobb–Douglas production function conducted panel stochastic frontier analysis and TOBIT regression, and the conclusion was robust. The mechanism test found that the economic growth of Guangdong Province, including Shenzhen, is still dominated by labor and investment. Its production efficiency has been dramatically impacted after 2008, and the increase in production inefficiency may be affected by the crowding-out effect of a four-trillion investment. Finally, based on the Tobit regression, we found that the rise in the labor force, capital input, technological level, and socioeconomic development level could reduce Shenzhen’s production inefficiencies by 3.6%, 20.2%, 2.5%, and 4%, respectively. There is still a long way to achieve sustainable development; however, Shenzhen’s technological innovation and mega-city reform process will provide valuable insights for other regions.

Keywords: national sustainable development innovation demonstration zone; innovation; production efficiency; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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