Can Open Government Data Improve City Green Land-Use Efficiency? Evidence from China

Abstract

This study adopted the double difference method to study the effect of open government data (OGD) on city green land-use efficiency (CGLUE). It was found that opening government data had a significant promotional effect on CGLUE, and a number of robustness tests were the foundation for this finding. A mechanism analysis demonstrated that two key avenues via which government data openness can promote CGLUE are raising public awareness of environmental issues and strengthening urban green innovation potential. A heterogeneity analysis found that the effect of government data openness on CGLUE was more obvious in eastern cities, cities with higher levels of digital finance, and non-resource-based cities. In addition, open government data also reduced urban carbon emissions while improving CGLUE, contributing to China’s “double carbon” goal.

Keywords

• open government data
• city green land-use efficiency
• public environmental concerns
• urban green innovation
• carbon emissions