Spatial Impact of Industrial Structure Upgrading and Corporate Social Responsibility on Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China

Abstract

Identifying the spatial attributes of economic, social and environmental development is a prerequisite for China to raise the quality of development. Based on the parallel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2019, this study uses a spatial econometric model to explore the spatial impacts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and industrial structure upgrading on carbon emissions. The regulating effect of CSR during industrial structure adjustment for carbon emission reduction was also analyzed. It was found that regional carbon emissions were reduced due to CSR and industrial structure adjustment, and the former was beneficial during industrial structure adjustment for carbon emission reduction. The carbon emissions in neighboring areas have also been suppressed to some extent as a result of industrial structure adjustment. However, CSR can encourage some “free riding” behaviors, due to the economic externalities, which emit more carbon into the surroundings. Additionally, carbon emissions show different responses to CSR in various regions. Therefore, strategies must enhance overall social responsibility and formulate different policies in various regions to promote CSR as an influential factor in curbing carbon emissions. Moreover, spatial governance should consider the comparative advantages of different regions, form complementary advantages and fully enhance the cooperation between CSR and industrial structure upgrading on carbon emission reduction.