IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/rdevec/v28y2024i1p310-338.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The unintended energy efficiency gain from tax incentives for investment: Micro‐evidence from quasi‐natural experiments in China

Author

Listed:
  • Yijia Song
  • Xitao Li
  • Ruoxi Liu
  • Xin Peng

Abstract

In light of the economic recession in the post‐pandemic era, countries have implemented a wide array of fiscal stimulus measures as a means of addressing the prevailing economic challenges but often neglect to consider the consequences of these stimuli on the environment. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to take environmental considerations into economic stimulus packages, aiming to achieve a sustainable “green recovery.” Using China's value‐added tax (VAT) reform as a quasi‐natural experiment, we find that VAT incentives have significantly improved the firm's energy efficiency through factor substitution and technological progress, indicating that tax incentives are beneficial to economic stimulus and energy saving. In addition, we find that energy market distortions play a significant negative moderating role, which weakens energy efficiency gained from the VAT incentives. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis shows that the improvement of energy efficiency is concentrated in non‐state, high‐capital intensity, and high financing‐dependent firms. According to our findings, policymakers should have a thorough understanding of the potential of tax incentives for investment as a policy tool for achieving a “green recovery” as long as the energy market is efficient.

Suggested Citation

  • Yijia Song & Xitao Li & Ruoxi Liu & Xin Peng, 2024. "The unintended energy efficiency gain from tax incentives for investment: Micro‐evidence from quasi‐natural experiments in China," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 310-338, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:28:y:2024:i:1:p:310-338
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.13058
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13058
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/rode.13058?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sai Ding & Puyang Sun & Wei Jiang, 2019. "The Effect of Foreign Entry Regulation on Downstream Productivity: Microeconomic Evidence from China," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 121(3), pages 925-959, July.
    2. Lv, Yulan & Chen, Wei & Cheng, Jianquan, 2020. "Effects of urbanization on energy efficiency in China: New evidence from short run and long run efficiency models," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    3. Zhao, Xingrong & Zhang, Xi & Shao, Shuai, 2016. "Decoupling CO2 emissions and industrial growth in China over 1993–2013: The role of investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 275-292.
    4. Bu, Maoliang & Li, Shuang & Jiang, Lei, 2019. "Foreign direct investment and energy intensity in China: Firm-level evidence," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 366-376.
    5. Zhang, Dayong & Li, Jun & Ji, Qiang, 2020. "Does better access to credit help reduce energy intensity in China? Evidence from manufacturing firms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    6. Masayuki Shimizu, 2020. "The relationship between pollution abatement costs and environmental regulation: Evidence from the Chinese industrial sector," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 668-690, May.
    7. Yongzheng Liu & Jie Mao, 2019. "How Do Tax Incentives Affect Investment and Productivity? Firm-Level Evidence from China," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 261-291, August.
    8. Zhao Chen & Xian Jiang & Zhikuo Liu & Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato & Daniel Yi Xu, 2023. "Tax Policy and Lumpy Investment Behaviour: Evidence from China’s VAT Reform," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 90(2), pages 634-674.
    9. Chang-Tai Hsieh & Peter J. Klenow, 2009. "Misallocation and Manufacturing TFP in China and India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(4), pages 1403-1448.
    10. Loren Brandt & Trevor Tombe & Xiadong Zhu, 2013. "Factor Market Distortions Across Time, Space, and Sectors in China," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 16(1), pages 39-58, January.
    11. Loren Brandt & Trevor Tombe & Xiadong Zhu, 2013. "Factor Market Distortions Across Time, Space, and Sectors in China," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 16(1), pages 39-58, January.
    12. Maya Eden, 2017. "Misallocation and the Distribution of Global Volatility," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(2), pages 592-622, February.
    13. Qu, Chenyao & Shao, Jun & Shi, Zhenkai, 2020. "Does financial agglomeration promote the increase of energy efficiency in China?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    14. Wang, Jingwen & Shen, Guangjun & Tang, Dunzhe, 2021. "Does tax deduction relax financing constraints? Evidence from China's value-added tax reform," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    15. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    16. Masayuki Shimizu, 2022. "Effects of pollution abatement activities on environmental efficiency and productivity: Empirical evidence from the Chinese industrial sector," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 484-509, February.
    17. Wu, Haoyi & Guo, Huanxiu & Zhang, Bing & Bu, Maoliang, 2017. "Westward movement of new polluting firms in China: Pollution reduction mandates and location choice," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 119-138.
    18. Huang, Geng & He, Ling-Yun & Lin, Xi, 2022. "Robot adoption and energy performance: Evidence from Chinese industrial firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    19. Huang, Wei & Liu, Hong, 2023. "Early childhood exposure to health insurance and adolescent outcomes: Evidence from rural China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    20. Chengrui Xiao, 2020. "Intergovernmental revenue relations, tax enforcement and tax shifting: evidence from China," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 27(1), pages 128-152, February.
    21. Lu, Yi & Tao, Zhigang, 2009. "Contract enforcement and family control of business: Evidence from China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 597-609, December.
    22. Cui, Lin & He, Xiaoming, 2017. "Expanding near the home base or venture far? The influence of home country state on the economic distance of foreign direct investments," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 95-107.
    23. Terry S. Moon, 2022. "Capital Gains Taxes and Real Corporate Investment: Evidence from Korea," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(8), pages 2669-2700, August.
    24. Sun, Liyang & Abraham, Sarah, 2021. "Estimating dynamic treatment effects in event studies with heterogeneous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 175-199.
    25. He, Yongda & Lin, Boqiang, 2019. "Heterogeneity and asymmetric effects in energy resources allocation of the manufacturing sectors in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 1019-1035.
    26. Yajima, Naonari & Arimura, Toshi H., 2022. "Promoting energy efficiency in Japanese manufacturing industry through energy audits: Role of information provision, disclosure, target setting, inspection, reward, and organizational structure," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    27. Chen, Shawn Xiaoguang, 2017. "The effect of a fiscal squeeze on tax enforcement: Evidence from a natural experiment in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 62-76.
    28. Mi Dai & Miaojie Yu & Chunming Zhao, 2018. "Export tightening, competition, and firm innovation: Evidence from the renminbi appreciation," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 263-286, February.
    29. Liu, Changqing & Li, Lei, 2021. "Place-based techno-industrial policy and innovation: Government responses to the information revolution in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    30. Zhou, P. & Ang, B.W. & Wang, H., 2012. "Energy and CO2 emission performance in electricity generation: A non-radial directional distance function approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 221(3), pages 625-635.
    31. Ouyang, Xiaoling & Wei, Xiaoyun & Sun, Chuanwang & Du, Gang, 2018. "Impact of factor price distortions on energy efficiency: Evidence from provincial-level panel data in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 573-583.
    32. Eric Zwick & James Mahon, 2017. "Tax Policy and Heterogeneous Investment Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(1), pages 217-248, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jiang, Wei & Li, Xitao & Liu, Ruoxi & Song, Yijia, 2022. "Local fiscal pressure, policy distortion and energy efficiency: Micro-evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    2. Li, Yutao & Zhang, Jinning & Lyu, Yanwei, 2023. "Does telecommunications infrastructure promote entrepreneurship in developing countries? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 106-119.
    3. Juan Tang & Fangming Qin, 2022. "Analyzing the impact of local government competition on green total factor productivity from the factor market distortion perspective: based on the three stage DEA model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(12), pages 14298-14326, December.
    4. Cui, Yi, 2024. "Place-based policies and capital misallocation: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(4).
    5. Tang, Meili & Wang, Yu, 2022. "Tax incentives and corporate social responsibility: The role of cash savings from accelerated depreciation policy," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Qiao, Sen & Chen, Hsing Hung & Zhang, Rong Rong, 2021. "Examining the impact of factor price distortions and social welfare on innovation efficiency from the microdata of Chinese renewable energy industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    7. Lin, Boqiang & Du, Kerui, 2015. "Energy and CO2 emissions performance in China's regional economies: Do market-oriented reforms matter?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 113-124.
    8. Sebastian Siegloch & Nils Wehrhöfer & Tobias Etzel, 2022. "Spillover, Efficiency and Equity Effects of Regional Firm Subsidies," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 210, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    9. Peng, Fei & Wang, Ling & Peng, Langchuan & Wu, Huaqing, 2023. "Local government fiscal squeeze, environmental regulation and firms’ polluting behavior: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    10. Liu, Guanchun & Liu, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Chengsi, 2022. "Tax enforcement and corporate employment: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    11. Peng Hou & Yilin Li & Yong Tan & Yuanjie Hou, 2020. "Energy Price and Energy Efficiency in China: A Linear and Nonlinear Empirical Investigation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-24, August.
    12. Zhao Chen & Yuxuan He & Zhikuo Liu & Juan Carlos Suárez Serrato & Daniel Yi Xu, 2021. "The Structure of Business Taxation in China," Tax Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(1), pages 131-177.
    13. Tianchu Feng & Meijuan Liu & Chaozhu Li, 2022. "How Does Vertical Fiscal Imbalance Affect CO 2 Emissions? The Role of Capital Mismatch," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, August.
    14. Jia, Wentao & Xie, Rui & Ma, Chunbo & Gong, Zezhong & Wang, Hui, 2024. "Environmental regulation and firms' emission reduction – The policy of eliminating backward production capacity as a quasi-natural experiment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    15. Qiao, Sen & Zhao, Dong Hao & Guo, Zi Xin & Tao, Zhang, 2022. "Factor price distortions, environmental regulation and innovation efficiency: An empirical study on China's power enterprises," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    16. Cui, Yadong & Jiang, Yaohui & Zhang, Zhaowen & Xu, Su, 2023. "Tax reduction, technological progress, and energy efficiency improvement: A quasi-natural experiment from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 618-633.
    17. Xinze Li & Luojia Wang & Kerui Du, 2023. "How do environmental regulations influence resource misallocation in China? The role of investment flows," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 538-550, January.
    18. Li, Xing & Shen, Guangjun, 2023. "Do tax incentives decelerate corporate financialization? Evidence from the VAT reform in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    19. Guangjun Shen & Jingxian Zou, 2023. "Total Factor Productivity in China's Manufacturing Sector in the Aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 31(2), pages 1-25, March.
    20. Lin, Gaoyi & Ma, Liuding & Liao, Hui & Li, Jingying, 2024. "Nothing comes for free: Evidence from a tax reduction of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:28:y:2024:i:1:p:310-338. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1363-6669 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.