The Impact of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Emission Control on Agricultural Total Factor Productivity

Jinsong Guo, Yingjun Xiao and Weiyong Zou ()
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Jinsong Guo: College of Economics, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Yingjun Xiao: College of Economics, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Weiyong Zou: College of Economics, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-31

Abstract: Based on panel data of 164 prefecture-level cities in China between 2003 and 2022, this research employs a difference-in-differences (DID) model with a multidimensional fixed-effects regression model to investigate the impact of China’s pilot policy of controlling nitrogen and phosphorus emissions (PCNPE) on agricultural total factor productivity (ATFP) and its mechanism. The findings indicate that the Phosphorus Emission Control Policyphosphorus emission control policy (PCPE) reduces ATFP, while the nitrogen emission control policy (PCNE) has no significant effect. Notably, the negative impact of PCPE is smaller in key environmental protection zones and in the central and eastern regions compared to non-key zones and the western region. Importantly, consistent with the Porter hypothesis, the implementation of PCPE can promote ATFP by stimulating agricultural technology innovation (ATI). This research provides empirical evidence based on interdisciplinary knowledge to assist government policymaking in reconciling agricultural production and ecological conservation.

Keywords: agricultural total factor productivity; control of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions; agricultural technological innovation; PSM-DID (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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