Analysis on the impact of smart city construction on urban greenness in China's megacities.

Urban greenness serves as a key indicator of sustainable urban development, with smart city construction emerging as a primary strategy for its enhancement. However, there is little empirical evidence considering multi-dimension between urban greenness and smart city construction on the city level. This study focuses on the impact on urban greenness of smart city construction in megacities, using the difference-in-differences regression model to evaluate the impact based on urban development conditions in various aspects from 2010 to 2021 in 10 megacities in China. The results of panel data of different indicator samples show unique conclusions. First, smart city pilot policy in megacities has significant impact on urban greenness, primarily due to demographic and economic developments. Second, the impact is different between the megacity and national level, and different factors of urban greenness have different effects on smart city construction. Third, the effects are time-lagged and lasted for years, and regional heterogeneity divided by building climate zones is existed, where the effect is more obvious in city agglomeration. These findings of smart city construction reveal the unique influences on megacity greenness, and can be generalized to cities with similar characteristics accordingly.

Advancing nuanced pollution control: Local improvements and spatial spillovers of policies on key enterprises.

This paper examines the impact of air pollution control policies targeting key polluting enterprises, highlighting a strategic shift towards precision pollution control that concentrates on high-emission, high-risk businesses. The paper explores the efficacy of these policies and their potential spatial spillover effects, utilizing panel data from 259 Chinese cities from 2013 to 2021. Employing the difference-in-differences (DID) model and spatial Durbin model, the study analyzes both the direct local effects and the broader spatial consequences of these regulatory measures on air quality. The findings indicate a significant reduction in air pollutant concentrations in urban areas, attributing this improvement to factors such as industrial restructuring, increased investment in science and technology, and economic growth. Spatial econometric analysis further reveals a substantial positive correlation in air quality among Chinese cities. However, estimates of the spillover effect indicate that while such policies successfully reduce pollution locally, they could unintentionally degrade air quality in adjacent areas. The study highlights the need for nuanced policy strategies to mitigate unintended spatial spillovers and enhance overall effectiveness. It recommends tailored policies that integrate environmental and socioeconomic objectives, national and regional coordination for consistent enforcement, technology-driven compliance strategies, and incentives for sustainable enterprise practices.

Examining the influence of location-oriented policies on green transition development of resource-based cities: evidence from China.

Assessing the impact of transforming resource-based cities (RBCs) through scientific evaluation is a crucial approach to gauge the efficacy of implementation of national locational policies. Drawing upon panel data encompassing 113 RBCs over the period 2006 to 2020, this study employs the difference-in-differences (DID) model to systematically evaluate the impact of location-oriented policies, represented by the "National Resource-Based Economic Transformation Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone" (CRPZ), on the trajectory of green transition development (GTD) within RBCs. The results indicate, firstly, that the CRPZ has facilitated the GTD of RBCs, and a series of robustness tests confirm this conclusion, revealing a stimulating effect that evolves from initial suppression to subsequent promotion. Secondly, CRPZ can drive the GTD of RBCs by optimizing industrial structure and enhancing innovation capability, which shows that different marginal utilities are observed in its impact on the GTD of RBCs. Finally, the effectiveness of the CRPZ in promoting the GTD of RBCs is influenced by the degree of resource dependence, with a more pronounced impact on cities with higher levels of resource dependence. The conclusions of this study provide valuable insights for the ongoing evaluation of location-oriented policies and the promotion of GTD in RBCs.

The impact of the carbon trading market on urban coordinated development in China.

Evaluating the effects of China's carbon emission trading scheme (ETS) is crucial for the coordinated development of Chinese cities. Therefore, based on the panel data of 242 cities in China from 2008 to 2019, this paper uses the multi-period difference-in-difference (DID) model to comprehensively evaluate the impact of carbon market on the coordinated development of cities from the perspectives of carbon market policy and carbon market efficiency, and then analyzes the mechanism and heterogeneity of the effect of carbon market efficiency. The results show that both carbon market policy and carbon market efficiency can promote the coordinated development of cities. Science and education expenditure plays a significant intermediary role in the impact of carbon market efficiency on the coordinated development of cities. The heterogeneity test finds that the stricter the performance penalty system, the higher the level of urban coordinated development, and the stronger the effect of carbon market efficiency. The findings of this paper provide policy recommendations for further improving the construction of China's pilot and national ETS and enhancing the coordinated development of Chinese cities.

Is there heterogeneity and moderating effect of carbon trading pilot in promoting total factor productivity?

In order to analyze what factors may affect the role of carbon trading pilot in promoting total factor productivity, this paper constructs DID model combining information of listed companies with city and industry characteristics. The moderating effect model is used to research the influence of firms' induced behavior. The results show that (1) the characteristics of a city can influence the impact of carbon trading pilot, which is associated with the city's dominant industry, resource endowment, and geographical location; (2) the effect of carbon trading pilot is heterogeneous, primarily indicating a stronger effect on high-emission industries, while having no significant impact on high-pollution industries; and (3) the induced behavior of businesses, such as increasing green innovation and environmental protection expenditure, potentially "crowding out" the effects of the carbon trading pilot.

How the digital infrastructure construction affects urban carbon emissions-A quasi-natural experiment from the "Broadband China" policy.

The global emphasis on informatization and low-carbon development is growing. Using staggered Difference-In-Differences (DID) methodology, this research examines the impact of digital infrastructure development on urban carbon dioxide emissions and explores its underlying causal mechanisms. Drawing from a comprehensive 2009-2019 panel dataset of 240 Chinese cities, the study employs the "Broadband China" policy as a reliable proxy for digital infrastructure construction (DIC). The findings indicate that DIC effectively reduces urban carbon dioxide emissions, fostering sustainable low-carbon regional economic development. The results withstand robustness tests, revealing heterogeneous effects, with coastal cities and those with stronger environmental regulations experiencing more significant reductions. The study suggests that upgrading industrial structure and enhancing green innovation capacity are effective methods for DIC to mitigate urban carbon emissions. The paper concludes with policy recommendations, emphasizing leveraging policy dividends, addressing regional disparities, and adopting a multi-path development approach. Providing new insights and empirical data, this research contributes to understanding the relationship between DIC and urban carbon emissions, offering policy guidance for China's carbon reduction efforts and strategic objectives of carbon peaking and neutrality.

Impact of capitation prepayment on the medical expenses and health service utilization of patients with coronary heart disease: a community policy intervention program in a county in China.

BACKGROUND: Medical costs have been rising rapidly in recent years, and China is controlling medical costs from the perspective of health insurance payments. OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of the capitation prepayment method on medical expenses and health service utilization of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, which provides a scientific basis for further improvement of the payment approach. METHODS: The diagnosis records of visits for CHD in the database from 2014 to 2016 (April to December each year) were selected, and two townships were randomly selected as the pilot and control groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-difference (DID) model were used to assess changes in outpatient and inpatient expenses and health service utilization among CHD patients after the implementation of the capitation prepayment policy. RESULTS: There were eventually 3,900 outpatients and 664 inpatients enrolled in this study after PSM. The DID model showed that in the first year of implementing the reform, total outpatient expenses decreased by CNY 13.953, drug expenses decreased by CNY 11.289, as well as Medicare payments decreased by CNY 8.707 in the pilot group compared to the control group. In the second year of implementing the reform, compared with the control group, the pilot group had a reduction of CNY 3.123 in other expenses, and a reduction of CNY 6.841 in Medicare payments. There was no significant change in inpatient expenses in the pilot group compared to the control group, but there was an increase of 0.829 visits to rural medical institutions, and an increase of 0.750 visits within the county for inpatients. CONCLUSIONS: The capitation prepayment method has been effective in controlling the outpatient expenses of CHD patients, as well as improving the medical service capacity of medical institutions within the Medical Community, and increasing the rate of inside county visits for inpatients.

Impact of low-carbon city pilot policies on urban green innovation from the perspective of spatial and temporal heterogeneity.

The low-carbon city pilot policy (LCPP) in China is an active response to climate change, with cities serving as the main agents of action. Enhancing green innovation at a city-wide level can effectively support the promotion of pilot cities' efforts towards sustainable growth. Using panel data from 204 prefectures collected from 2005 to 2019, we adopted the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) model and the spatial Durbin model combined with time-varying DID (SDM-DID) to determine the impact of the LCPP on urban green innovation and its temporal and spatial heterogeneity. Empirical findings showed that (1) LCPP had a significant positive impact on urban green innovation, and green invention patents had a greater green innovation effect than green utility model patents. (2) Heterogeneity analysis revealed that in terms of geographical location, the pilot policy was more effective in promoting urban green innovation in the eastern and central regions in comparison to the western region. At the city level, the pilot policy had a greater impact on green innovation in first- and second-tier cities. With regard to city scale, large-scale cities showed a greater impact on green innovation than small- and medium-sized cities. (3) Mechanistic testing revealed that LCPPs stimulated urban green innovation by talent aggregation, increasing government support for innovation, and public participation; but the mechanism for alleviating financing constraints has yet to be effectively validated. (4) The LCPP showed a spatial spillover effect, whereby one city's low-carbon governance yielded institutional dividends for neighboring cities both geographically and economically, and the impact was more pronounced in those cities that were not resource-based. This study presents empirical evidence at the urban and spatial levels, supporting the comprehensive promotion of low-carbon city construction and development in China.

The relationship between dynamic monitoring network plans and eco-efficiency - New evidence from atmospheric quality monitoring policy in China.

China's rapid economic development in recent decades has come at a considerable environmental cost. This paper explores whether atmospheric quality monitoring policy (AQMP) improves eco-efficiency by using AQMP as a natural experimental group. We assessed the eco-efficiency of 285 cities in China from 2009 to 2019 using the super-efficient SBM model and estimated the impact of AQMP using the propensity score method Difference-in-Difference (PSM-DID) model. The key findings of this paper are as follows: First, AQMP can enhance eco-efficiency, promoting sustainable urban development. Second, governmental and non-governmental organizations play contrasting roles in either fostering or reversing the positive effects of AQMP. Factors like innovation, clean energy adoption, and industrial structure have a positive mediating influence. Finally, the impact of AQMP on eco-efficiency varies across cities, displaying heterogeneity. Specifically, AQMP has a positive effect on eco-efficiency in resource-rich cities, small and medium-sized urban centers, smart cities, and coastal areas. These findings carry significant implications for the establishment of dynamic monitoring networks and the advancement of eco-efficiency in emerging countries, including China.

Does China Overseas Economic and Trade cooperation Zone affect CO2 emissions in host countries? Evidence from a quasi-natural experimental of countries along the "Belt and Road".

China Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (COCZs) which as a platform for China's foreign investment and trade has a potential impact on CO2 emissions, while strengthening bilateral investment and trade between China and the host countries. Since most of the COCZs are located in countries along the "Belt and Road," the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of COCZs on CO2 emissions of the countries along the "Belt and Road" and the mechanism of this impact. We constructed a panel data of 63 countries along the "Belt and Road" from 2000 to 2020, and conducted an empirical study using the difference-in-difference (DID) model. Our research result show that COCZs can significantly increase the CO2 emissions of the countries along the "Belt and Road." Then, we conduct a series of robustness tests and endogeneity test on the estimation results of the baseline model, and the results of the tests all support the conclusion reached by the baseline model. Our heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effect of COCZs on CO2 emissions is more significant in Asian countries with lower national income or industrialization and higher country risk. Finally, we analyzed industrial value added and energy depletion as possible impact mechanisms, the results of mechanism model shows that COCZs can increase the industrial value added and then significantly increase CO2 emissions, but energy depletion was not an efficient mechanism. Our paper provides a new insight into the impact of bilateral economic and trade cooperation zones on CO2 emissions in host countries.

The impact of ultra-high voltage projects on carbon emissions in China.

The inter-regional ultra-high voltage (UHV) projects are crucial for power systems. Carbon emissions associated with the power sector cannot be ignored. In this paper, based on the panel data of 198 prefecture-level cities in China from 2009 to 2019, a multi-period difference-in-difference model is developed for the first time to examine the impact of UHV projects on carbon emissions. Empirical results show that UHV projects increase overall carbon emissions. This impact can also be achieved through the mechanisms of the scale of power generation and the level of economic development. Heterogeneity research demonstrates that the carbon emissions issue of UHV projects is more significant in cities with low levels of economic development and a large proportion of secondary industries. Extensibility research shows that UHV projects have a more significant impact on carbon emissions in power-sending cities than that in power-receiving cities. The more clean power the UHV transmission lines transmit, the less impact on carbon emissions. This study not only enhances our understanding about the impact of UHV projects on carbon emissions, but also provides inspiration for the low-carbon pathway transition.

The impact of green financial policies on carbon emission efficiency: empirical evidence from China.

In the crucial phase of high-quality economic growth, green finance is essential for directing capital to green industries and optimizing the quality of economic growth. Academics in China have paid a great deal of attention to green finance because it is a crucial government policy for advancing the development of an ecological civilization. This document examines the Chinese State Council's implementation of the Guidance on Building a Green Financial System as a quasi-natural experiment. It determines, using the double difference method and panel data from 283 prefecture-level cities in China between 2011 and 2020, if green financial reform policies can enhance carbon emission efficiency and its mechanisms. The study reveals that green finance reform policies considerably improve the carbon efficiency of cities, albeit with a significant time lag and an annual increase in net effect. In addition, the mechanism analysis revealed that green financial policies primarily improve carbon emission efficiency by decreasing the intensity of energy consumption, enhancing technological innovation, and optimizing industrial structure. Therefore, expanding the size of the reform pilot zone and increasing incentives and guidance for green financial institutions will aid the transition of cities to a low-carbon economy.

Do energy-environmental efficiency benefit from advanced policy zones? Evidence from national new zones of China.

As global climate change aggravates, reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution is essential to sustainable economic development. This paper measures the energy-environmental efficiency of 284 prefecture-level cities in China using a non-radial directional distance function (NDDF) and data envelopment analysis (DEA), and evaluates the impact of the establishment of national new zones on energy-environmental efficiency using the multi-period difference-in-difference model (DID). The results are: first, establishing national new zones improves the energy-environmental efficiency of the prefecture-level cities in which they are located by 13%-25%, and the mechanisms include enhancing the green technical efficiency and scale efficiency. Second, national new zones have both negative and positive spatial spillover effects. Third, in terms of heterogeneity, the impact of establishing national new zones on energy-environmental efficiency increases with larger quantile of the latter; national new zones with the one-city layout have significant stimulating impacts on energy-environmental efficiency, but those with the two-city layout have no significant impact, which means there is no significant green synergistic development impact among cities. We also discuss the policy implications of the research, including enhanced policy support and regulation to support the energy environment sector.

Co-Benefits of China's Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme: Impact Mechanism and Spillover Effect.

Based on the panel data of 281 prefecture-level cities in China, from 2007 to 2017, we empirically explore the co-benefits of the carbon emissions trading scheme. We found that the carbon emissions trading scheme effectively achieved the coordinated control of carbon dioxide and air pollutants, by improving the green production level of the pilot areas, reducing the regional industrial output, and promoting the upgrading of the industrial structure. In terms of heterogeneity, the emissions trading scheme shows obvious urban location and level heterogeneity, in terms of coordinated control. The synergistic emission reduction effects of eastern and central cities are significantly better than those of cities in central and western regions and non-central cities. It has also had positive spillover effects on the surrounding cities of the pilot areas, but pollution levels in farther areas may have increased due to possible "pollution shelter problems".

Regional difference assessment of the South-to-North Water Diversion project on improving intensive utilization efficiency of water resources in the water-receiving areas.

Improving the intensive utilization efficiency of water resources is essential to promote the sustainable utilization and management of water resources in water shortage areas, such as the water-receiving areas of water transfer project. Since the middle line project of South-to-North Diversion (SNWD) officially put into operation in 2014, the status of water resource supply and management in the water-receiving areas in China has changed. This study aimed to analyze the impact of the middle line project of SNWD on the intensive utilization efficiency of water resources, combined with the analysis results in the effects of the middle line project of SNWD under a variety of heterogeneous factors, so as to provide a policy reference for the utilization and management of water resources in water-receiving areas. Specifically, the BCC model based on the input perspective was adopted to calculate the water resource intensive utilization efficiency in 17 cities of Henan Province in China from 2011 to 2020. On this basis, the regional differences in the effects of the middle line project of SNWD on the water resource intensive utilization efficiency were analyzed through the difference-in-differences (DID) method. The results indicated that (1) during the study period, the average value of water resource intensive utilization efficiency in water-receiving areas was higher than that in non-water-receiving areas in Henan province, and the development trends of them showed "U"-shaped characteristics. (2) The middle line project of SNWD significantly has promoted the water resource intensive utilization efficiency in the water-receiving areas in Henan Province. (3) The heterogeneous differences of economic development, opening-up level, government influence, water resource endowment, and water resource policies would lead to regional differences in the effect of the middle line project of SNWD. Therefore, the government should adopt differentiated policies to improve the intensive utilization efficiency of water resources in accordance with the development conditions of the water-receiving areas.

The Effect of Descending Resources Reform on Reallocating Healthcare Resources: An Analysis Based on the Difference-in-Differences Method.

Since 2010, China has been exploring descending resources reform in order to correct the imbalanced allocation of healthcare resources and promote coordinated economic development among regions. This paper for the first time estimates the impact this reform has had on the reallocation of healthcare resources by using prefecture-level cities panel data from Zhejiang Province, China, which implemented the reform province-wide in 2013. The time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) method was used to estimate the reform's policy effects. The data used in this paper is from published statistical yearbooks and local governments, which include panel data from 11 prefecture-level and higher cities in Zhejiang Province as the treated group and 46 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu, Henan, and Sichuan Province as the control group. The entropy weight method was used to construct the supply index and demand index to incorporate multiple inputs and outputs, and efficiency indicators were constructed using the ratio method. This research found that the reform has had a positive effect on outpatient visits in different prefecture-level cities with vast rural areas. However, this reform exerted no significant impact on inpatient services or supply-side or resource allocation efficiency. Several robust tests support the above conclusions, and one theoretical explanation is provided. The descending health resources reform can be a valuable reform path in promoting more balanced healthcare resource allocation; however, the resultant disparities in its effects should be considered when implementing it.

Development zone policy and urban carbon emissions: empirical evidence from the construction of national high-tech industrial development zones in China.

As a key strategy to promote system reform, improve the investment environment, and encourage industrial agglomeration, the national high-tech industrial development zone (NHTDZ) policy in China can not only reduce energy consumption through the scale effect but also improve energy efficiency by modernizing industrial structure and fostering technological innovation, thereby alleviating environmental pollution. Existing studies, however, focus solely on the effects of NHTDZ policy on social and economic development, ignoring their impact on the ecological environment, especially carbon (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming. Thus, this article analyzes a panel data of 285 prefecture-level cities and above in China from 2003 to 2019 to assess the influence of NHTDZ policy on CO2 emissions, treating the NHTDZ construction since 1988 as a quasi-natural experiment. The results indicate that the NHTDZ policy would mitigate urban carbon emissions, particularly in middle, southeastern, medium-sized, resource-based (RB), non-key environmental protection (non-KEP), and non-two control zone (non-TCZ) cities. In addition, the mediation mechanism test demonstrates that the environmental benefits of the NHTDZ policy in China are attributable to the scale effect, the structural upgrading effect, and the technology innovation effect. The NHTDZ policy would lower per capita CO2 emissions by reducing energy consumption, upgrading industrial structure, and promoting green technology innovation.

Can the Clean Heating Policy reduce carbon emissions? Evidence from northern China.

The Clean Heating Policy aims to solve the problems of excessive energy consumption and severe air pollution caused by central heating in northern China. Whether this policy can effectively reduce carbon emissions remains unexplored. Using panel data representing 65 cities in northern China from 2010 to 2019, this paper constructs a dynamic spatial DID model to empirically study the carbon reduction effect of the Clean Heating Policy and its influence channels. The results are summarized as follows. First, the Clean Heating Policy can significantly reduce carbon emissions, and this conclusion holds after multiple robustness tests. The policy has a lag effect, but its spatial spillover effect and long-term effect are not significant. Second, the carbon reduction effect of the Clean Heating Policy is mainly achieved by optimizing the energy structure and improving the thermal efficiency of heat consumer terminals. Third, the carbon reduction effect varies by city and emission field. It is significant only in low-subsidy cities, high-carbon cities, and household fields. Fourth, there is a synergistic reduction relationship between the Clean Heating Policy and the low-carbon city policy. Based on the results of this paper, we propose policy implications, such as promoting policies in multiple ways and improving subsidy efficiency, and provide a reference for other countries.

The impact of China's low-carbon city pilot policy on carbon emissions: based on the multi-period DID model.

To address climate change and promote green development, the Chinese government has implemented low-carbon city pilot policy since 2010, and continued to expand the scope of pilots. Accurately assessing the policy effects of pilot city construction is of great significance for the further promotion of low-carbon policy. Carbon emissions are included in the evaluation framework of China's low-carbon city pilot policy, and used the panel data of 272 cities in 2000-2018 to evaluate the effectiveness of low-carbon city pilot policy based on the multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model. Empirical findings that (1) low-carbon pilot policy could not only directly reduce carbon emissions, but also indirectly reduce carbon emissions through upgrading industrial structure and promoting technological innovation. (2) Given that there is remarkable gap in economic and social development across different regions, the policy effect is reexamined for nature resource and region location. The results indicate that carbon emissions reduction effect of low-carbon city pilot policy is more significant in resource-based cities and eastern cities. (3) Carbon emissions have significant spatial correlation, that is to say, low-carbon pilot policy has positive spillover effect on reducing carbon emissions in surrounding cities. The study provides empirical evidence for further expanding the scope of the pilot projects, as well as scientific basis for making environmental policies for carbon emissions reduction.

Does Administrative Division Adjustment promote low-carbon city development? Empirical evidence from the "Revoke County to Urban District" in China.

The carbon emission reduction in city regions as a result of the optimization of urban spatial layout is crucial for combating global warming and has garnered widespread attention in recent years. There is little evidence, however, that a specific spatial optimization technique has a substantial effect on urban spatial layout and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. As an effective tool of hierarchical network governance in China, Administrative Division Adjustment (ADA) has the potential to achieve this goal, due to its redistributive effects on urban space resources. Therefore, we utilize the "Revoke County to Urban District" (CTD)-one of the common and typical ADA policies-as a case study to examine its environmental implications, based on the mediation mechanism of urban spatial layout. The empirical results from a panel dataset of 285 prefecture-level and above cities in China indicate that the CTD will reduce urban CO2 emissions, especially in low administrative levels (low-rank), non-resource based (RB), non-key environmental protection (KEP), midwestern and northwestern cities. And the additional mediation mechanisms demonstrate that the environmental benefits of the CTD in China are attributed to the optimization of urban spatial layout, which reduces CO2 emissions by improving public transportation and limiting urban sprawl.