Exploring the Coupling Coordination of Green Transformation of Industry and Novel Infrastructure in the Context of Low-Carbon Economy

Abstract

In response to the huge economic impact of the new pneumonia epidemic, the “new infrastructure” has become an important hedge against the downward pressure of the economy. We believe that we should take this opportunity to ensure that the “new infrastructure” projects can strongly support the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy, so whether the new infrastructure can promote the green transformation of the industry has become the focus of academic circles, whereas the existing literature has ignored the coupling and coordination between the green transformation of the sports industry (GTSI) and the novel infrastructure in the context of a low-carbon economy. This study uses data of 31 provinces and cities in China from 2013 to 2020, and a linked coordination degree model is selected to assess the relationship between novel infrastructure and GTSI. The conclusions are as follows. (1) China’s comprehensive index of “novel infrastructure” was 0.228 from 2013 to 2020, comprised of 0.705 convergence infrastructure, 0.227 information infrastructure, and 0.200 innovation infrastructure. (2) The sports industry’s average green total factor productivity is 1.223, with an annual growth rate of 11.2%. The yearly growth rates for green technology efficiency, green pure technology efficiency, and green scale efficiency are correspondingly 10.5%, 6.8%, and 4.5%. 83.6% of provinces and cities are in the growing return to size phase. (3) The mean coupling coordination value between novel infrastructure and GTSI is 0.449. Except for Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the majority of provinces and cities led in the development of novel infrastructure but lagged in GTSI. From 2013 to 2020, the coupling coordination degree of novel infrastructure and its three subsystems in specific provinces and cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, and GTSI show an upward trend, while the overall trend displays a downward trend. (4) Novel infrastructure and GTSI have mutual promoting effect; Government intervention negatively affects the coupling and coordination level; Consumption structure, industrial structure and foreign investment also have a certain positive impact on the two.