Ziyuan Kexue (Sep 2023)
Impact of innovation-driven policies on total factor energy efficiency: Based on the national innovation city pilot policy
Abstract
[Objective] Improving energy efficiency is of great significance for energy conservation and carbon reduction, and revealing the impact of innovation-driven policies on energy efficiency and examining its mechanism of impact can provide a scientific basis for promoting high-quality economic development. [Methods] Based on the panel data of 280 prefecture-level cities from 2004 to 2019, this study used the super-slacks-based measure (SBM) method to measure the total factor energy efficiency and the multi-period difference-in-differences model to investigate the impact of the national innovation city pilot policy on total factor energy efficiency. [Results] (1) Innovation-driven policies, represented by the national innovation city pilot, can significantly promote the improvement of urban total factor energy efficiency. Compared with non-pilot cities, the total factor energy efficiency of pilot innovation cities increased by 3.3% on average. (2) The impact of the innovation city pilot policy was more obvious in cities with higher administrative levels and better location advantages, non resource-based, with weaker environmental regulations and low initial total factor energy efficiency. (3) Green technology innovation level and industrial structure optimization were the important mechanisms of innovation city pilot policy promoting the improvement of total factor energy efficiency. (4) Extended analysis showed that there was a positive spatial spillover effect of innovation-driven policies on total factor energy efficiency. [Conclusion] Therefore, we should pay attention to the lessons learned and dissemination of experience from the innovation city pilot policy implementation, strengthen the overall planning and cooperation of various regions, increase the support for green technology innovation, and optimize the industrial structure, in order to promote the improvement of total factor energy efficiency.
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