Factors affecting green building development at the municipal level: A cross-sectional study in China

Abstract

Over the past decade, there has been an unprecedented growth in the development of green building projects in China. Using a unique cross-sectional database compiled from multiple sources, this study employs a Negative Binomial regression model to analyze the determinants of local green building development in 282 municipalities, with a focus on local policy and design standards. We present evidence that geographical location, local fiscal revenue, and real estate investment are strong predictors of green building counts. In terms of policy effectiveness, the results indicate that both mandatory regulations and incentive-based policies contribute to increasing the adoption of green buildings; nevertheless, mandatory regulations have a stronger effect on green building development than incentive policies. This paper also suggests that, when controlling for local green building policies, local design standards may negatively affect green building development.