Spatial dependence, agglomeration externalities and the convergence of carbon productivity

By combining the extended slack based measurement (SBM) model directed distance function and the metaconstrained production function to measure China's carbon productivity, this paper studies the spatial spillover effects and convergence characteristics of carbon productivity. According to the results, carbon productivity showed obvious viscosity and spatial dependence in adjacent regions. China's carbon productivity had spatial conditional beta-convergence and club convergence effects. Specifically, agglomeration externalities constituted an important mechanism for increasing carbon productivity and realizing the convergence thereof. Different agglomeration forms under different agglomeration degrees corresponded to different carbon productivity levels; with an increase in the degree of agglomeration, the emission reduction effect of specialized agglomeration diminished, while that of diversified agglomeration increased. Furthermore, depending on suitable agglomeration degrees, the emission reduction effect of specialized agglomeration could coexist with that of diversified agglomeration. In terms of regional distribution, in East China, both specialized agglomeration and diversified agglomeration presented relatively significant emission reduction effects. In contrast, in Central China and West China, only specialized agglomeration showed a weak emission reduction effect.

Automated summary

This paper examines China's carbon productivity and finds significant spatial spillover effects and convergence characteristics in carbon productivity between adjacent regions. Agglomeration externalities play a key role in increasing carbon productivity. Different agglomeration degrees result in varying levels of carbon productivity.