Does Environmental Regulation Improve Carbon Emission Efficiency? Inspection of Panel Data from Inter-Provincial Provinces in China

Pan Jiang, Mengyue Li, Yuting Zhao, Xiujuan Gong, Ruifeng Jin, Yuhan Zhang, Xue Li and Liang Liu ()
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Pan Jiang: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Mengyue Li: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Yuting Zhao: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Xiujuan Gong: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Ruifeng Jin: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Yuhan Zhang: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Xue Li: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Liang Liu: School of Economics and Management, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 16, 1-18

Abstract: This study aims to analyze the nonlinear relationship between environmental regulation and carbon emission efficiency and provide scientific reference for achieving the goal for carbon neutrality at a lower cost. Taking 30 provinces in China, using dual carbon policy as the research objects, the slacks-based measure–Malmquist–Luenberger (SBM–ML) index method was used to measure the carbon emission efficiency from 2009 to 2019 and a panel threshold regression model was established to explore the nonlinear effects of environmental regulation and carbon emission efficiency in each province. The results show that: (1) during the sample period, there is geographical variability in CEE, with the eastern coastal provinces having the highest CEE, followed by the central and western provinces, and the resource-dependent provinces having the lowest CEE and their energy consumption and utilization efficiency being significantly lower than other provinces; (2) when the energy consumption intensity is used as a threshold variable, the relationship between environmental regulation and carbon emission rate is an inverted “U” shape; and (3) when green technology innovation is used as a threshold variable, the relationship between environmental regulation and carbon emission rate is a “U” shape. This study provides a new perspective for improving carbon emission efficiency.

Keywords: environmental regulation; carbon emission rate; SBM–ML; panel threshold model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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