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Does Environmental Regulation Promote Environmental Innovation? An Empirical Study of Cities in China

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  • Dezhong Duan

    (Institute for Global Innovation and Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China)

  • Qifan Xia

    (Institute for Global Innovation and Development, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China)

Abstract

Promoting environmental innovation through environmental regulation is a key measure for cities to reduce environmental pressure; however, the role of environmental regulation in environmental innovation is controversial. This study used the number of environmental patent applications to measure urban environmental innovation and analyzed the role of urban environmental regulation on urban environmental innovation with the help of the spatial Durbin model (SDM). The results showed that: (1) From 2007 to 2017, the number of environmental patent applications in China has grown rapidly, and technologies related to buildings dominated the development of China’s environmental innovation. (2) Although the number of cities participating in environmental innovation was increasing, China’s environmental innovation activities were highly concentrated in a few cities (Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai), showing significant spatial correlation and spatial agglomeration characteristics. (3) Urban environmental regulation had a positive U-shaped relationship with urban environmental innovation capability, which was consistent with what the Porter hypothesis advocates.

Suggested Citation

  • Dezhong Duan & Qifan Xia, 2021. "Does Environmental Regulation Promote Environmental Innovation? An Empirical Study of Cities in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:139-:d:709565
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    3. Peng Hou & Jifei Guo, 2023. "Exploring the Demand-Pull Effect on Green Innovation and Its Spatial Spillover Effects: Evidence from 261 Chinese Prefecture-Level Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-22, November.

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