IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jpolmo/v46y2024i1p60-74.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

China's foreign direct investments: Do they promote domestic green technology?

Author

Listed:
  • Cai, Xiang
  • Zhao, Xiaohui
  • Jiang, Cuiting
  • Zhang, Liguo

Abstract

This study systematically analyses the nonlinear relationship between China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and reverse green technological progress (RGTP) using fixed effects (FE) model based on panel data for 31 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2020. We find that the link between China's OFDI and RGTP is an inverted U-shaped curve. In addition, environmental regulation and technology gaps all reduce the height of the inverted U-shaped inflection point. Environmental regulation prolongs the "climb" stage while technology gaps compress the "climb" stage of the inverted U-curve relationship significantly. This result is verified in further robustness tests. The four transmission mechanisms of China's OFDI on RGTP play a positive role: these findings may help policymakers to design more flexible and effective OFDI policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Cai, Xiang & Zhao, Xiaohui & Jiang, Cuiting & Zhang, Liguo, 2024. "China's foreign direct investments: Do they promote domestic green technology?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 60-74.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:46:y:2024:i:1:p:60-74
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2023.08.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161893823000960
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2023.08.002?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Deng, Ziliang & Falvey, Rod & Blake, Adam, 2012. "Trading market access for technology? Tax incentives, foreign direct investment and productivity spillovers in China," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 675-690.
    2. Dieppe,Alistair Matthew & Francis,Neville Ricardo & Kindberg-Hanlon,Gene, 2021. "Technology and Demand Drivers of Productivity Dynamics in Developed and Emerging Market Economies," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9525, The World Bank.
    3. Jonah B. Gelbach, 2016. "When Do Covariates Matter? And Which Ones, and How Much?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 34(2), pages 509-543.
    4. Grossman, G.M & Krueger, A.B., 1991. "Environmental Impacts of a North American Free Trade Agreement," Papers 158, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs.
    5. Fujimori, Azusa & Sato, Takahiro, 2015. "Productivity and technology diffusion in India: The spillover effects from foreign direct investment," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 630-651.
    6. Sethi, Pradeepta & Chakrabarti, Debkumar & Bhattacharjee, Sankalpa, 2020. "Globalization, financial development and economic growth: Perils on the environmental sustainability of an emerging economy," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 520-535.
    7. Yahui Chen & Changsheng Xu & Ming Yi, 2019. "Does the Belt and Road Initiative Reduce the R&D Investment of OFDI Enterprises? Evidence from China’s A-Share Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-14, March.
    8. Zhang, Weiwei & Zhang, Shijin & Chen, Fu & Wang, Yuan & Zhang, Yichi, 2023. "Does Chinese companies' OFDI enhance their own green technology innovation?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    9. James Heckman & Rodrigo Pinto & Peter Savelyev, 2013. "Understanding the Mechanisms through Which an Influential Early Childhood Program Boosted Adult Outcomes," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(6), pages 2052-2086, October.
    10. Fengchun Li & Cheng Yu, 2020. "OFDI and Home Country Structural Upgrading: Does Spatial Difference Exist in China?," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(7), pages 1532-1546, May.
    11. Jin Hong & Chongyang Zhou & Yanrui Wu & Ruicheng Wang & Dora Marinova, 2019. "Technology Gap, Reverse Technology Spillover and Domestic Innovation Performance in Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 27(2), pages 1-23, March.
    12. Liu, Liyun & Zhao, Zhenzhi & Su, Bin & Ng, Tsan Sheng & Zhang, Mingming & Qi, Lin, 2021. "Structural breakpoints in the relationship between outward foreign direct investment and green innovation: An empirical study in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    13. Songping Zhu & Azhong Ye, 2018. "Does the Impact of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment on Reverse Green Technology Process Differ across Countries?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Moralles, Herick Fernando & Moreno, Rosina, 2020. "FDI productivity spillovers and absorptive capacity in Brazilian firms: A threshold regression analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 257-272.
    15. Song, Yiru & Yu, Chunjiao & Hao, Lulu & Chen, Xi, 2021. "Path for China's high-tech industry to participate in the reconstruction of global value chains," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    16. Barras, Richard, 1986. "Towards a theory of innovation in services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 161-173, August.
    17. Xie, Rong-hui & Yuan, Yi-jun & Huang, Jing-jing, 2017. "Different Types of Environmental Regulations and Heterogeneous Influence on “Green” Productivity: Evidence from China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 104-112.
    18. Yu, Yongze & Li, Ke & Duan, Shenglan & Song, Chenchen, 2023. "Economic growth and environmental pollution in China: New evidence from government work reports," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    19. Wong, Zoey & Chen, Afei & Peng, Dan & Kong, Qunxi, 2022. "Does technology-seeking OFDI improve the productivity of Chinese firms under the COVID-19 pandemic?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    20. Ren, Xiaoyan & Yang, Shuili, 2020. "Empirical study on location choice of Chinese OFDI," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    21. Hao Chen & Jiadong Pan & Wen Xiao, 2020. "Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Industrial Upgrading from the Perspective of Differences among Countries," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 28(3), pages 1-28, May.
    22. Razzaq, Asif & An, Hui & Delpachitra, Sarath, 2021. "Does technology gap increase FDI spillovers on productivity growth? Evidence from Chinese outward FDI in Belt and Road host countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    23. Zhijun Feng & Bo Zeng & Qian Ming, 2018. "Environmental Regulation, Two-Way Foreign Direct Investment, and Green Innovation Efficiency in China’s Manufacturing Industry," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-22, October.
    24. Li, Xing & Zhou, Wei & Hou, Jiani, 2021. "Research on the impact of OFDI on the home country's global value chain upgrading," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    25. Yu-Hong Ai & Di-Yun Peng & Huan-Huan Xiong, 2021. "Impact of Environmental Regulation Intensity on Green Technology Innovation: From the Perspective of Political and Business Connections," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-23, April.
    26. Zhang, Wenyue & Li, Jianan & Sun, Chuanwang, 2022. "The impact of OFDI reverse technology spillovers on China's energy intensity: Analysis of provincial panel data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    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. Shao, Yanmin & Li, Junlong & Zhang, Xueli, 2024. "Outward foreign direct investment and green technology innovation: A company and host country perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    2. Shi, Xing & Zeng, Yujie & Wu, Yanrui & Wang, Shuai, 2023. "Outward foreign direct investment and green innovation in Chinese multinational companies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    3. Wang, Hui & Si, Ieongcheng & Chen, Zhihua, 2024. "Does the Belt and Road Initiative promote China and the countries along the route to reconstruct the global value chain? Evidence from value-added trade," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 63-83.
    4. Xing Shi & Yujie Zeng & Yanrui Wu & Shuai Wang, 2023. "Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Green Innovation in Chinese Multinational Companies," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-05, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    5. Wang, Delu & Wang, Yadong & Jiang, Wuding & Shi, Xunpeng, 2023. "Has outward foreign direct investment alleviated industrial overcapacity in China? An empirical test of the upstream and downstream industrial links," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 250-263.
    6. Yao Zhao & Xuena Kong & Mahmood Ahmad & Zahoor Ahmed, 2023. "Digital Economy, Industrial Structure, and Environmental Quality: Assessing the Roles of Educational Investment, Green Innovation, and Economic Globalization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-24, January.
    7. French, Eric Baird & O’Dea, Cormac & MacCuish, Jamie, 2021. "The Intergenerational Elasticity of Earnings: Exploring the Mechanisms," CEPR Discussion Papers 15975, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Jiajia Guo & Xin Shen, 2024. "Does Digitalization Facilitate Environmental Governance Performance? An Empirical Analysis Based on the PLS-SEM Model in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Ren, Siyu & Hao, Yu & Wu, Haitao, 2022. "The role of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on green total factor energy efficiency: Does institutional quality matters? Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    10. Achuo, Elvis & Nchofoung, Tii & Asongu, Simplice & Dinga, Gildas, 2021. "Unravelling the Mysteries of Underdevelopment in Africa," MPRA Paper 111556, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Vanessa da Silva Mariotto Onody & Ana Catarina Gandra de Carvalho & Eduardo Polloni-Silva & Guilherme Augusto Roiz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Daisy Aparecida Nascimento Rebelatto & Herick Fernando Mora, 2022. "Corruption and FDI in Brazil: Contesting the “Sand” or “Grease” Hypotheses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Rigissa Megalokonomou & Yi Zhang, 2022. "How Good Am I? Effects and Mechanisms behind Salient Ranks," CESifo Working Paper Series 9991, CESifo.
    13. Xinli Wang & Yuansheng Huang, 2021. "The heterogeneous impact of environmental regulations on low‐carbon economic transformation in China: Empirical research based on the mediation effect model," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 11(1), pages 81-102, February.
    14. Eduardo Polloni-Silva & Diogo Ferraz & Flávia de Castro Camioto & Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto & Herick Fernando Moralles, 2021. "Environmental Kuznets Curve and the Pollution-Halo/Haven Hypotheses: An Investigation in Brazilian Municipalities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-19, April.
    15. Nicholas W Papageorge & Kevin Thom, 2020. "Genes, Education, and Labor Market Outcomes: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 18(3), pages 1351-1399.
    16. Razzaq, Asif & Ajaz, Tahseen & Li, Jing Claire & Irfan, Muhammad & Suksatan, Wanich, 2021. "Investigating the asymmetric linkages between infrastructure development, green innovation, and consumption-based material footprint: Novel empirical estimations from highly resource-consuming economi," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    17. Muyao Li & Jinsong Zhang & Ramakrishnan Ramanathan & Ruiqian Li, 2020. "Opening the Black Box: The Impacts of Environmental Regulations on Technological Innovation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-18, June.
    18. Tong Sheng & Bingquan Fang & Xiaoqian Lu & Xingheng Shi & Chaohai Shen & Xiaolan Zhou, 2022. "The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility, Global Investment, and Equity Incentives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, December.
    19. Dervis Kirikkaleli & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Sema Yilmaz Genc & Modupe Oluyemisi Oyebanji & Gualter Couto, 2022. "The Asymmetric and Long-Run Effect of Financial Stability on Environmental Degradation in Norway," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.
    20. Michela Carlana & Eliana La Ferrara & Paolo Pinotti, 2022. "Goals and Gaps: Educational Careers of Immigrant Children," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(1), pages 1-29, January.

    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:eee:jpolmo:v:46:y:2024:i:1:p:60-74. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/505735 .

    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.