Technological Innovation, Production Efficiency, and Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Shenzhen in China

Sheng Zhang,Meng Xu,Zeyu Song,Yifu Yang

doi:10.3390/su131910827

Abstract

Shenzhen is a national sustainable development innovation demonstration zone, with the theme of innovation leading the sustainable development of megacities. This manuscript studies technological innovation, production efficiency, and sustainable development and explores the impact of their relationship on Shenzhen. The benchmark test shows a significant negative correlation between the inefficiency of production, labor levels, investment levels, technical levels, and socioeconomic status. From 2001 to 2019, the production efficiencies of 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province were used as the research object. The Cobb–Douglas production function conducted panel stochastic frontier analysis and TOBIT regression, and the conclusion was robust. The mechanism test found that the economic growth of Guangdong Province, including Shenzhen, is still dominated by labor and investment. Its production efficiency has been dramatically impacted after 2008, and the increase in production inefficiency may be affected by the crowding-out effect of a four-trillion investment. Finally, based on the Tobit regression, we found that the rise in the labor force, capital input, technological level, and socioeconomic development level could reduce Shenzhen’s production inefficiencies by 3.6%, 20.2%, 2.5%, and 4%, respectively. There is still a long way to achieve sustainable development; however, Shenzhen’s technological innovation and mega-city reform process will provide valuable insights for other regions.

Highlights

The different industrial technology systems formed by the three industrial revolutions have continuously expanded the ability and scope of humankind to conquer and transform nature, and the tendency of humanity to destroy the ecological environment and plunder natural resources
The ordinary standard deviation under ordinary least squares (OLS) is less effective than the robust standard deviation of clustering, so the F-test of OLS may not be effective in this case [16]
The key to controlling invalid investment is, according to Section 3.3, to establish a scientific research management mechanism based on trust and give scientific researchers greater discretionary control over humans and properties, and to pay close attention to implementing the income distribution policy-oriented to increase the value of knowledge and reasonably determine scientific research personnel’s income level

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Science and technology affect human lifestyle and play a fundamental role in the relationship between humankind and nature. The rational use of science and technology establishes the sustainability of human production methods. The three industrial revolutions brought the material living standard of humanity to an unprecedented level. The different industrial technology systems formed by the three industrial revolutions have continuously expanded the ability and scope of humankind to conquer and transform nature, and the tendency of humanity to destroy the ecological environment and plunder natural resources

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion