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Environmental Regulations, Green Technology Innovation, and High-Quality Economic Development in China: Application of Mediation and Threshold Effects

Author

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  • Tao Lin

    (Office of Science, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169, China)

  • Lijun Wang

    (Archives and Achievements Service Center, Jiangsu Institute of Science and Technology Information, Nanjing 210042, China)

  • Jingbo Wu

    (Office of Science, Jinling Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211169, China)

Abstract

In this article, we consider sample data from 30 regions in China from 2004 to 2020. We use the entropy method to measure the high-quality development level, then examine the intermediary and threshold effects to verify the main paths by which green technology innovation mediates the relationship between environmental regulation intensity and the quality of economic development. Our conclusions are as follows: (1) There is a “U”-shaped relationship between environmental regulation intensity and high-quality economic development. When the environmental regulation intensity is low, there is a negative (inhibitory) relationship between the two, while there is a positive (promoting) relationship when the intensity is high. Furthermore, a high proportion of secondary industries inhibit high-quality development, perfect infrastructure and information access can promote high-quality development, and excessive population density hinders high-quality development. (2) There also exists a “U”-shaped relationship between environmental regulation intensity and green technology innovation, which forms a co-directional change relationship. Green technology innovation has a significant mediating effect on the impact of environmental regulation intensity on high-quality economic development. (3) The threshold effect test confirms the existence of double thresholds. When the green technology innovation level is not high, environmental regulations inhibit high-quality economic development. However, when green technology innovation reaches a certain level, environmental regulations will promote high-quality economic development. This paper has certain theoretical reference for achieving high-quality development goals; thus, our results are expected to provide theoretical support for China’s high-quality development.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Lin & Lijun Wang & Jingbo Wu, 2022. "Environmental Regulations, Green Technology Innovation, and High-Quality Economic Development in China: Application of Mediation and Threshold Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:11:p:6882-:d:831885
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    Cited by:

    1. Chengyu Han & Dongwen Hua & Juan Li, 2023. "A View of Industrial Agglomeration, Air Pollution and Economic Sustainability from Spatial Econometric Analysis of 273 Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Khurshid, Adnan & Huang, Yupei & Cifuentes-Faura, Javier & Khan, Khalid, 2024. "Beyond borders: Assessing the transboundary effects of environmental regulation on technological development in Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    3. Jinhuang Mao & Zhenyu Wang & Tianyang Ma, 2023. "Dynamic Evolution of High-Quality Economic Development Levels: Regional Differences and Distribution in West China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Bie, Fan & Zhou, Luyao & Liu, Shuo & Yang, Tao, 2024. "Government digital transformation, resource curse and green total factor energy efficiency in Chinese cities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    5. Haoyang Lu & Alistair Hunt & Bruce Morley, 2024. "The Impact of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation Tools on Economic Growth: Can Environmental Protection and Economic Growth Be Win-Win?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Yan Mei & Jingyi Miao & Yuhui Lu, 2022. "Digital Villages Construction Accelerates High-Quality Economic Development in Rural China through Promoting Digital Entrepreneurship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-29, October.
    7. Zhiping Song & Peishan Tong, 2022. "The Impact of Environmental Regulation on Human Sustainable Development: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    8. Zhicheng Duan & Tingting Tang, 2022. "Quantitative Simulation and Verification of the Coordination Curves between Sustainable Development and Green Innovation Efficiency: From the Perspective of Urban Agglomerations Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-22, December.
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    10. Lan Khanh Chu, 2023. "Environmentally related technologies and environmental regulations in promoting renewable energy: evidence from OECD countries," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(1), pages 177-197, March.

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