Have FDI quantity and quality promoted the low-carbon development of science and technology parks (STPs)? The threshold effect of knowledge accumulation.

Shujing Zhang,Xiufeng Zhang,Beibei Hu,Ming Zhang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245891

Abstract

In recent times, China has emphasized five major development concepts to promote high-quality development: coordination, green, innovation, openness, and sharing. As a metamorphosis of these ideas, Chinese science and technology parks (STPs) are gathering areas of high-tech industries and represent advanced productive forces. Their greenness, openness, and innovative developments herald the future development trends of China. Based on the data of 52 STPs in China from 2011 to 2018, this study analyzes the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) quantity and quality on the low-carbon development of the STPs. We use Hansen’s nonlinear panel threshold regression model with knowledge accumulation as the threshold variable. The results show the following: First, there are complex nonlinear relationships between FDI quantity, FDI quality, and the low-carbon development of the STPs. Second, FDI quantity has a significant positive impact on the low-carbon development of the STPs only when the level of knowledge accumulation is below a certain threshold. Beyond this threshold the effect is no longer significant. Third, FDI quality has a significant positive impact on the low-carbon development of STPs only when the level of knowledge accumulation is lower than a certain threshold; beyond which, the impact is no longer significant. These results can serve as a reference for China to effectively promote economic low-carbon growth of STPs and achieve green, open, and innovative development.

Highlights

As the largest developing country in the world, China has made tremendous progress with 30 years of rapid economic growth: from the reformation and opening up in 1978 to the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008
To test whether the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) quantity and quality on low-carbon growth has a threshold effect based on the knowledge accumulation of science and technology parks (STPs), and whether there are multiple threshold effects, this study verifies the threshold effect of knowledge accumulation for FDI quantity and quality
The results show that the single and double thresholds of FDI quantity are significant at the 10% and 1% levels, respectively

Summary

Introduction

As the largest developing country in the world, China has made tremendous progress with 30 years of rapid economic growth: from the reformation and opening up in 1978 to the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008. In this process, the Chinese government promoted rapid economic growth by accelerating the development of high-tech industries and science and technology parks (STPs). The Chinese government promoted rapid economic growth by accelerating the development of high-tech industries and science and technology parks (STPs) These STPs have played a leading role in and greatly promoted. Have FDI quantity and quality promoted the low-carbon development of science and technology parks (STPs)?

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion