Can Mega Sporting Events Promote Urban Green Transformation? Evidence from China

Zihao Zhou, Shanlang Lin, Jianfeng Shi, Junpei Huang and Xiaoxin Han ()
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Zihao Zhou: School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Jianfeng Shi: Tongji University Library, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Junpei Huang: Department of Physical Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Xiaoxin Han: Committee of Communist Youth League, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-18

Abstract: With the adoption of the concept of sustainable development, mega sports events (MSEs) are gradually aiming to be greener and to lower their carbon footprints. As such, does the hosting of MSEs provide an opportunity for urban green transformation? Taking MSEs in China as a quasi-natural experiment and using prefecture-level panel data from 2000 to 2020, we empirically explored the effects and mechanisms of MSE hosting on the green economic development in urban areas by applying a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The findings revealed that the hosting of MSEs can significantly increase the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of the host city, indicating that MSEs promote the green transformation of urban areas. The results of the mechanism analysis showed that hosting MSEs promotes urban green transformation through three channels: encouraging residents to choose public transport, promoting the development of the digital economy, and upgrading of the industrial structure. In addition, the effect of hosting MSEs on green transformation is stronger in cities where the public is more concerned about the environment. We argue that host city governments should implement the concept of green sports when organizing MSEs, increase public concern about the environment, focus on the development of urban public services, and vigorously develop tertiary industries to drive urban green transformations.

Keywords: mega sporting events; urban green transformation; green total factor productivity; difference-in-differences approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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