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Can Low-Carbon Pilot City Policies Improve Energy Efficiency? Evidence from China

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Listed:
  • Yuexing Li

    (School of Management Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Jun Liu

    (School of Management Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China)

  • Xuefei Wang

    (School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Macao Polytechnic Institute, Macao 999078, China)

  • Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest

    (Department of Accounting Economics Finance, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA 16057, USA)

Abstract

This study examines how the low-carbon pilot city policy (LCPCP) affects energy efficiency from the angles of green technology innovation and upgrading industrial structure by using panel data collected from Chinese cities between 2007 and 2019. The research results include: (1) Based on the time-varying difference-in-differences method, LCPCP has significantly improved energy efficiency, while such results remain significant after replacing the method of measuring the dependent variable and testing with the placebo test and the method of PSM-DID. (2) The heterogeneity analysis shows that compared to resource-based cities (RBC), LCPCP has a greater impact in non-resource-based cities (NRBC). Compared to the Central regions (CR) and Western regions (WR), LCPCP has a stronger impact in the Eastern region (ER). (3) A mechanism inspection shows that LCPCP can promote energy efficiency through both upgrading industrial structure and green technology innovation. LCPCP is of great importance for improving energy efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuexing Li & Jun Liu & Xuefei Wang & Jeffrey Yi-Lin Forrest, 2023. "Can Low-Carbon Pilot City Policies Improve Energy Efficiency? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1857-:d:1040098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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