Green location-oriented policies and carbon efficiency: a quasi-natural experiment from National Eco-industrial Demonstration Parks in China

This paper investigates how National Eco-industrial Demonstration Parks (NEDP) in China affects carbon emission efficiency. The difference-in-differences (DID) strategy is used for analysis. This paper finds that the construction of NEDP is conducive to the improvement of carbon emission efficiency, and the findings remain robust through placebo tests and propensity score matching. Heterogeneity analysis shows NEDP construction has greater utility on carbon efficiency in non-resource-based cities as well as in environmentally friendly cities. The mechanism analysis found that green technology innovation, industrial restructuring, and the relocation of industrial enterprises are effective ways to improve carbon efficiency in NEDP. Finally, this paper finds that the construction of NEDP has obvious spatial spillover effects on carbon efficiency, which can effectively heighten the carbon efficiency level of this locality and nearby areas.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the impact of National Eco-industrial Demonstration Parks (NEDP) on carbon emission efficiency in China. The study uses the difference-in-differences (DID) strategy for analysis and finds that the construction of NEDP contributes to the improvement of carbon emission efficiency. The findings are robust through placebo tests and propensity score matching. Heterogeneity analysis shows that NEDP construction is more effective in improving carbon efficiency in non-resource-based cities and environmentally friendly cities. Mechanism analysis reveals that green technology innovation, industrial restructuring, and the relocation of industrial enterprises are effective ways to improve carbon efficiency in NEDP. Finally, the study identifies the spatial spillover effects of NEDP construction on carbon efficiency, which can effectively enhance the carbon efficiency level in the locality and nearby areas.