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Decentralization, institutional quality, and carbon neutrality: Unraveling the nexus in China's pursuit of sustainable development

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  • Umar, Muhammad
  • Ji, Xiangfeng
  • Safi, Adnan
  • Afshan, Sahar

Abstract

Achieving carbon neutrality is essential for environmental sustainability and should be pursued with minimal disruption to economic growth. China's recent commitment to carbon neutrality holds significant importance in current discussions. This study investigates strategies to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), emphasizing carbon neutrality. It also examines the long-term impacts and causality between fiscal decentralization and institutional quality in relation to carbon dioxide (CO2). emissions Utilizing the quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) approach and the Granger causality in quantiles, our findings reveal a statistically negative ECM parameter across all quantiles. This indicates a stable, long-term relationship between fiscal decentralization (FDC), institutional quality (INSQ), and CO2 emissions. The study verifies the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in China across different quantiles. In the long run, fiscal decentralization seems to increase CO2 emissions, but robust institutional quality mitigates this impact. The Granger causality results highlight the intricate relationships among the variables. This research emphasizes the need for policymakers to bolster environmental protection and efficiency, ensuring fiscal decentralization benefits both environmental and economic agendas.

Suggested Citation

  • Umar, Muhammad & Ji, Xiangfeng & Safi, Adnan & Afshan, Sahar, 2024. "Decentralization, institutional quality, and carbon neutrality: Unraveling the nexus in China's pursuit of sustainable development," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1238-1249.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecanpo:v:82:y:2024:i:c:p:1238-1249
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eap.2024.05.008
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Carbon neutrality; CO2 emissions; EKC; Fiscal decentralization; Institutional quality; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • P48 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Legal Institutions; Property Rights; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Regional Studies
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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