Research on the Configuration Path of Regional Green Innovation in Space and Time: Dynamic QCA Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data

Hongyu Zhai, Yaliu Yang (), Heping Ding and Yu Zhou
Additional contact information
Hongyu Zhai: Business School, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Yaliu Yang: Business School, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Heping Ding: Business School, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Yu Zhou: Business School, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: Green innovation is an important starting point for implementing new developmental concepts and promoting high-quality development in the modern era. We construct an integrated analysis framework based on the environment–resource–subject configuration. Using 30 provinces and regions in China as an example, we employ the dynamic qualitative comparative analysis method to study the configuration path of multi-factor interactions affecting green innovation in an innovation ecosystem. The results indicate that (1) single factors are not necessary conditions for high regional green innovation. (2) The consistency level of the green financial environment exhibits a significant upward trend, demonstrating a clear temporal effect. (3) From the time dimension, three types of configuration paths exist for the interactive combination of environment, resources, and subjects to promote regional green innovation, and the consistency level of configuration between 2018 and 2022 fluctuates above 0.94. (4) From the spatial dimension perspective, clear differences exist in the paths driving the improvement of the green innovation level between the eastern, central, and western regions. This study broadens the scope of correlational research on green innovation, examining them across both temporal and spatial dimensions. It also provides enlightenment for regions seeking to enhance their green innovation.

Keywords: innovation ecosystem; green finance; high-tech industry; green innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1871/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1871/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1871-:d:1597284

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().