Will"dual-control"Energy Policies under Growth Pressure Exacerbate the North-South Divide in Green Total Factor Productivity?
Does stringent environmental regulation prompt northern regions to reduce the north-south development gap by en-hancing green total factor productivity,or does it trigger the motivation of local governments facing economic growth pressure,thereby exacerbating the green development gap between northern and southern regions?This study aims to delve into this complex dynamic by utilizing prefecture-level data and employing an"energy dual control"policy as a policy shock,which serves as a valuable lens through which researchers can examine the interplay between environmental regulations,economic growth pressure,and regional green development disparities.Additionally,the study employs the difference-in-differences method to explore the causal effect of a"one-size-fits-all"regulatory policy on regional coordinated development and green transformation.The research question at the heart of this study revolves around the dual impacts of stringent environmental regulations.On the one hand,such regulations might act as a driving force for northern regions to bolster green total factor productivity,thus narrowing the development gap with their southern counterparts.On the other hand,these regulations might induce local governments to prioritize economic growth,potentially exacerbating the existing disparities in green development between the northern and southern regions.The findings of the study underscore the significant impact of the"energy dual control"policy on the green total factor productivity gap between northern and southern regions.Following the policy implementation,the gap notably widens,signal-ing a divergence in the environmental performance of these regions.Importantly,the rise in economic growth pressure further amplifies this differentiation trend.This intensification of the green development gap is particularly unfavorable for regional coordinated development.Mechanism analysis is a crucial component of this study,providing insights into the factors driving the observed trends.The examination of industrial structure adjustment and technological progress reveals that these elements play pivotal roles in the widening gap of green total factor productivity between northern and southern regions.Differentiation in industrial struc-ture sophistication,technological complexity in high-tech product exports,and the level of green innovation emerge as key contributors.These results offer valuable empirical evidence for policymakers as they navigate the formulation and implementation of environmental regulation policies,especially in the context of the 'dual carbon' goals.The nuanced findings emphasize the need for tailored development policies that account for the diverse resource endowments and development foundations in dif-ferent regions.Such an approach is deemed more conducive to achieving regional economic green transformation and fostering coordinated development.In conclusion,this study contributes to our understanding of the complex relationship between stringent environmental regulations,economic growth pressure,and regional green development.The findings provide a nuanced perspective that can inform policymakers in developing targeted strategies to promote sustainable and coordinated development across diverse re-gions.
Energy Dual ControlEconomic Growth PressureGTFPNorth-South Gap
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
