Abstract
This study examines the impact of the National Pilot Zone for Ecological Conservation (NPZEC) policy in China on green innovation (GI) using panel data from 282 Chinese cities during the period 2011-2019. Employing a difference-in-differences (DID) model, we find that the NPZEC policy positively influences GI, leading to a significant increase of approximately 23.98% in the number of green patents in cities where the policy is implemented. Mechanism tests reveal that the NPZEC policy enhances fiscal support and promotes economic agglomeration, thereby fostering GI. Heterogeneity analyses indicate that the NPZEC policy prioritizes quantity over quality, with a stronger impact observed in western cities, low administrative level cities, and cities with lower economic development. Additionally, our findings highlight that higher public environmental attention and stronger intellectual property (IP) protection enhance the promotion effect of the NPZEC policy on GI. Lastly, the findings indicate that the NPZEC policy has a negative impact on GI in neighboring cities. Our study provides empirical references for policymakers to scientifically implement place-based policies and effectively promote GI in the future.
Published Version
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