Does green finance improve the industrial eco-efficiency in China?

Abstract

Improving industrial eco-efficiency is of great significance for building a beautiful China and achieving its carbon peak and neutrality targets. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2007 to 2018, this paper uses the super-efficiency SBM model to measure industrial eco-efficiency and empirically tests the influence of green finance on Chinese industrial eco-efficiency from the national and regional levels. The results show that the average level of industrial eco-efficiency in China is relatively stable during the study period with a large space for advancement. Second, there is spatial heterogeneity in Chinese industrial eco-efficiency, showing a gradually decreasing "southeast-northwest" ladder-like distribution. Third, the national-level regression results show that there is a significant "U-shaped" relationship between green financing and industrial eco-efficiency. In addition, the regression results at the regional level indicate that there is regional heterogeneity in the impact of green finance on industrial eco-efficiency. Finally, based on the research conclusions, specific suggestions on how green finance can improve industrial eco-efficiency in China are put forward, including vigorously developing green finance at the macro and micro levels, and exerting the positive effects of green finance in improving industrial eco-efficiency according to the area and the development level of green finance.