Abstract
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.
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Notes
China National Development and Reform Commission. Issued the “green development index system” “ecological civilization construction assessment target system.” 2016–12-22.
Abbreviations
- RBCs:
-
Resource-based cities
- CRPZ:
-
National Resource-Based Economic Transformation Comprehensive Supporting Reform Pilot Zone
- GTD:
-
Green transition development
- DID:
-
Difference-in-differences
- WTO:
-
World Trade Organization
- GTFP:
-
Green total factor productivity
- TFP:
-
Total factor productivity
- ML:
-
Malmquist–Lenberger index
- GML:
-
Global Malmquist productivity index
- NDRC:
-
National Development and Reform Commission
- RU:
-
Resource utilization
- EM:
-
Environmental management
- EQ:
-
Environmental quality
- GQ:
-
Growth quality
- GL:
-
Green living
- PSM:
-
Propensity score matching
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Acknowledgements
We thank the anonymous commentators and editors for their helpful suggestions.
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This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42001257) and the Research on Philosophy and Social Sciences in Shanxi Province’s Colleges and Universities (Grant No. 20210115).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by **g Cui, **nchi Jia, Jun Shen, and Ruixiang Chang. The first draft of the manuscript was written by **uli Liu and Wentao Li. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Liu, X., Li, W., Chang, R. et al. Examining the influence of location-oriented policies on green transition development of resource-based cities: evidence from China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 23505–23521 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32608-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32608-3