Upgrading Of Structure Research Articles

Application of an integrated device for ultra-low temperature desulfurization and denitration in large rotary kiln

To tackle the problem of excessive nitrogen oxide emissions during the denitration process of the lime rotary kiln at Beitai Iron Mine, it was proposed to integrate ultra-low temperature SCR denitration catalysts and a moving-burden bed reactor into a radial combined desulfurization and denitration device to achieve ultra-low temperature denitration in a low-sulfur state. The self-built integrated device features two desulphurization beds and one denitration bed, through which the flue gas passes successively in a radial flow manner. Industrial test results indicate that the denitration efficiency reached an average of 96.07% at temperatures ranging from 70 to 130°C during a 14-day test period, indicating a good denitration effect. The ultra-low temperature SCR denitration device has been put into use, effectively reducing nitrogen oxide emissions and air pollution, while also promoting the optimization and upgrading of the energy structure. The research results can provide a reference for the environmental management of mining and processing enterprises.

Integrated rehabilitation of reinforced concrete buildings: Combining seismic retrofit by means of low-damage exoskeleton and energy refurbishment using multi-functional prefabricated facade

The European building stock was mostly built before the mid-20th century and is characterized by buildings with high energy demand and high seismic vulnerability. Integrated upgrading interventions are therefore urgently needed for moving towards a more resilient community. In this study, rehabilitation interventions are proposed for reinforced concrete buildings to improve their energy efficiency as well as their structural/seismic performance. An integrated refurbishment aiming at structural, architectural, and energy upgrading is targeted. Energy retrofitting with multifunctional wood-based prefabricated modular facades has been evaluated, as capable of reducing heat consumption by an average of 84 % in different climate zones. More specifically, an exoskeleton system consisting of Prestressed Laminated timber (Pres-Lam) technology is considered, which will act as a structural support-skeleton system for a high-performance “double-skin” solution composed of prefabricated panels. This solution can reduce the seismic risk class in high seismic zones. The seismic-energetic integrated intervention is developed for a representative case study building and evaluated with reference to different climates and seismic zones. Furthermore, a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of the integrated solution has been performed, showing higher benefits when compared to the sole energy retrofit. Specifically, considering the seismic retrofit interventions, the cost analysis pointed out that moving up to higher-use classes results in higher performance and costs. Nevertheless, approximately comparable breakeven times have been obtained in the same seismic region by achieving higher targets. The proposed integrated solution is a promising alternative to demolition and reconstruction, providing a deep energy renovation and structural retrofit, avoiding inevitable waste production, additional energy consumption, and C02 emissions; and allowing for a sustainable renovation of the existing building stock.

The impact of two-way FDI on the upgrading of China’s industrial structure: Based on the research in Chongqing

The improvement in the economic environment and the implementation of the “bring in and go global” strategy have had an impact on China's economic development and the optimization of its economic structure. The decline of Chongqing's traditional pillar industries has made the promotion of economic structure upgrading a key to economic development. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of two-way foreign direct investment (FDI) in industrial structure upgrading. This paper is designed to study the effect of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and inward foreign direct investment (IFDI) on the industrial structure upgrading from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. This study selects data from Chongqing from 1987 to 2022 and uses Stata 17.0 software for empirical analysis, based on Chenery’s “standard structure” industrial change model. The research findings show that OFDI and IFDI have a significant positive impact on the intensification and servicification of Chongqing's industrial structure and are significant at the 0.01 level. OFDI and IFDI have a significant positive impact on the rationalization of Chongqing's industrial structure and are significant at the 0.05 level. This means that two-way FDI has a positive effect on the optimization of industrial structure. The practical implication of this study is that it provides a realistic basis for Chongqing to fully leverage the advantages of international direct investment and promote the optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure, which also has enlightening significance for China’s economic structure reform.

How does inter-provincial trade promote economic growth? Empirical evidence from Chinese provinces

In the face of complex domestic and international situations, the influence of domestic trade on economic growth has been paid more and more attention by the academic community while we still know little about its internal mechanism. From the perspective of China’s inter-provincial trade, based on the panel data of 29 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2000 to 2021, this paper studies the impact of inter-provincial trade on economic growth by using a two-way fixed effects model. It is found that inter-provincial trade has a significant positive effect on economic growth, and each 1% increase in inter-provincial trade will increase per capita GDP by 0.19%. Furthermore, inter-provincial trade positively affects economic growth through the effect of technology improvement and industrial structure upgrading. However, the two mechanisms are heterogeneous in the eastern, central, and western regions. Among them, the technology improvement mechanism is only established in the central and western regions and the industrial structure upgrading mechanism is only established in the eastern and central regions. Finally, we suggest that governments should formulate targeted development goals and plans according to the actual situation of each region, to ensure that inter-provincial trade can play a full role in promoting economic growth.

Research on the impact of FDI and environmental regulation on the industrial structure upgrading in the Yellow River Basin

Introductions: Since the reform and opening up, the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) has provided a steady stream of capital, technology, talent and other resources for the development of the Yellow River basin, while caused problems such as environmental pollution, ecological fragility and industrial structure upgrading difficulties to some extent. Environmental regulation is a pivotal initiative to achieve mutual harmony between ecological environment and economic development, which could enhance the quality of the introduction of FDI and accelerate the green transformation of the development mode.Methods: Based on urban panel data from 2006–2019, this study empirically examined the impact of FDI and environmental regulation on industrial structure upgrading in the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, taking environmental regulation as a threshold variable, a panel threshold model was established to further explore the role of environmental regulation in the impact of FDI on industrial structure upgrading in the Yellow River Basin.Results: (1) The relationship between FDI and industrial structure upgrading in the Yellow River Basin is not a simple linear relationship, but an inverted “U”-shaped relationship that rises first and then falls, and the results of this inverted “U”-shaped relationship are still robust after replacing key indicators. (2) The environmental regulation policy has a driving effect on the upgrading of industrial structure in the Yellow River Basin. (3) Environmental regulation has a positive role in the influence of FDI on the industrial structure upgrading in the Yellow River basin, and the positive role increases gradually as the intensity of environmental regulation increases moderately, but if the intensity of environmental regulation is too high, it will have a negative impact on the upgrading of industrial structure in the Yellow River basin to some extent.Discussion: In the future, policymakers should make reasonable and effective use of FDI and improve the quality of FDI; reasonably formulate environmental regulation policies; coordinate the intensity of FDI and environmental regulation; thus, bring into play the promotion effect of FDI and environmental regulation on industrial structure upgrading, and then realize the win-win of ecological protection and high-quality economic development in the Yellow River Basin.

How does the technological finance cooperation pilot policy affect prefecture-level cities’ high quality economic development in China?

This study explores whether and how the technological finance cooperation pilot (TFCP) policy affects high quality economic development (HQED) in China using panel data from 273 prefecture-level cities covering 2007–2021 and a multiperiod spatial difference-in-differences model. The TFCP is demonstrated to exert positive direct and indirect effects on HQED, indicating that such a policy promotes both pilot and non-pilot cities’ HQED. Besides, our addition tests reveal that: (a) the TFCP's direct (indirect) effect gradually rises (fluctuates); (b) the TFCP has heterogeneity effects in different regions; (c) the TFCP affects HQED through scientific and technological innovation and industrial structure upgrading.

The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the Effectiveness of Industrial Structure Upgrading: An Empirical Analysis Based on Panel Data from 31 Provinces in China

In the context of the accelerating global digitization process and the increasingly interconnected global economy, China is striving to establish a modern financial system that is innovation-led, data-enabled, and inclusive to all. This study, based on panel data from 31 provinces in China from 2013 to 2022, employs a two-way fixed effects model to delve into the impact of digital inclusive finance on the advancement and rationalization of industrial structure. The findings reveal that: (1) digital inclusive finance has a significant positive effect on the upgrading of industrial structure; (2) innovation investment plays a partial mediating role in this process; (3) there are notable regional differences in the impact of digital inclusive finance on industrial structure upgrading. Therefore, it is recommended that local governments formulate policies based on their respective realities, strengthen financial supervision and technological infrastructure construction, fully tap the potential of digital inclusive finance in promoting industrial structure upgrading, and promote the deep integration of financial resources and technological innovation to achieve continuous optimization and upgrading of the industrial structure.

Can Mega Sporting Events Promote Urban Green Transformation? Evidence from China

With the adoption of the concept of sustainable development, mega sports events (MSEs) are gradually aiming to be greener and to lower their carbon footprints. As such, does the hosting of MSEs provide an opportunity for urban green transformation? Taking MSEs in China as a quasi-natural experiment and using prefecture-level panel data from 2000 to 2020, we empirically explored the effects and mechanisms of MSE hosting on the green economic development in urban areas by applying a time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) approach. The findings revealed that the hosting of MSEs can significantly increase the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of the host city, indicating that MSEs promote the green transformation of urban areas. The results of the mechanism analysis showed that hosting MSEs promotes urban green transformation through three channels: encouraging residents to choose public transport, promoting the development of the digital economy, and upgrading of the industrial structure. In addition, the effect of hosting MSEs on green transformation is stronger in cities where the public is more concerned about the environment. We argue that host city governments should implement the concept of green sports when organizing MSEs, increase public concern about the environment, focus on the development of urban public services, and vigorously develop tertiary industries to drive urban green transformations.

Can the Digital Economy Promote Sustainable Improvement in the Quality of Employment for Chinese Residents?—Moderated Mediation Effect Test Based on Innovation Environments

Employment significantly impacts the national economy and people’s livelihoods and affects millions of households. How to effectively and sustainably improve the quality of employment for the population has thus become a key issue facing China at present. In recent years, under the strategic background of “Digital China” and “Employment Priority”, the digital economy has brought about profound changes in the efficiency, dynamics, and distribution of social production. It affects the quality of employment by creating jobs, reshaping employment patterns, and improving labor quality, but its impact and transmission path are still unclear. This research employs a multi-dimensional evaluation approach to score the digital economy and employment quality at the provincial level in China, utilizing data from the country’s provincial panels between 2012 and 2022, and examines the feasibility and effect pathways of the digital economy in promoting sustainable improvement in the quality of residential employment. The empirical results provide ample evidence of the significant role played by the digital economy in the sustainable improvement of the employment quality of the inhabitants. Regions with more robust innovation environments tend to benefit more from this impact, and there are discernible regional variations in the impact. The upgrading of industrial structure mediates this process, and the influencing mechanism is regulated by the innovation environment—that is, the innovation environment exerts a facilitating influence on the process of industrial restructuring. The findings herein offer novel insights into the intrinsic mechanism of the digital economy in promoting sustainable improvement in the quality of residential employment.

Will the miniaturization of household size promote household carbon emissions in China? Analysis based on CFPS data

As the proportion of household carbon emissions to global carbon emissions continues to increase, reducing carbon emissions from household consumption has become an important way to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. How the trend of miniaturization of household size will affect household carbon emissions is a matter of concern. This paper uses a sample of 9,090 households from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) database in 2018 to empirically study the impact of changes in household size on household carbon emissions, from the perspective of household consumption structure and urban-rural areas. The research results indicate that the miniaturization of household size will increase household carbon emissions, the impact of household size on indirect HCEs is greater than on direct HCEs. The impact of household size on indirect HCEs is heterogeneous in consumption structure and the impact of household size on indirect HCEs from housing, transportation is greater than that of other consumption items. The impact of household size on urban household carbon emissions is greater than that in rural areas. The upgrading of household consumption structure and the miniaturization of household size promote the increase of HCEs jointly. Therefore, this paper proposes that under the trend of household miniaturization, energy-saving and emission reduction policies should focus on reducing indirect households carbon emissions, optimizing household structure and household consumption structure, enhancing environmental awareness among family members, establishing and improving the green consumption system, and building environment-friendly households.

Wish fulfilment or wishful thinking? – Assessing the outcomes of China's pilot carbon emissions trading scheme on green economy efficiency in China's cities

Chinese authorities revived emission trading scheme in carbon emission (CETS) to address increasingly confliction between climate deterioration and economic growth. Therefore, we adopt the staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model to estimate the policy outcomes of the CETS on urban green economy efficiency relying on prefecture-year panel data from 2009 to 2019 in China. The results indicate that the implementation of CETS can significantly encourage pilot urban green economy efficiency, which remain credible after experiencing several robustness tests. Notably, channel analysis suggests that the pilot regional green economy efficiency (GEE) can be enhanced by the implementation of CETS through boosting technological innovation. Nevertheless, the CETS cannot promote industrial structure upgrading. Instead, its implementation has exacerbated industrial transfers, confirming the Pollution Haven Hypothesis existing between pilot and non-pilot regions. Unexpectedly, the moderating effect analysis reveals that market mechanisms responding with price mechanisms and scale effects fail to significantly promote urban GEE. Conversely, government intervention significantly contributes to the favourable outcomes of CETS on urban GEE. Additionally, we also reveal that CETS could achieve negative spillover effects on GEE for neighboring cities. Overall, our work has enriched research on the green economy effects of the CETS, systematically elucidating its operational mechanism.

Substantial differences in source contributions to carbon emissions and health damage necessitate balanced synergistic control plans in China

China’s strategy to concurrently address climate change and air pollution mitigation is hindered by a lack of comprehensive information on source contributions to health damage and carbon emissions. Here we show notable discrepancies between source contributions to CO2 emissions and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-related mortality by using adjoint emission sensitivity modeling to attribute premature mortality in 2017 to 53 sector and fuel/process combinations with high spatial resolution. Our findings reveal that monetized PM2.5 health damage exceeds climate impacts in over half of the analyzed subsectors. In addition to coal-fired energy generators and industrial boilers, the combined health and climate costs from energy-intensive processes, diesel-powered vehicles, domestic coal combustion, and agricultural activities exceed 100 billion US dollars, with health-related costs predominating. This research highlights the critical need to integrate the social costs of health damage with climate impacts to develop more balanced mitigation strategies toward these dual goals, particularly during fuel transition and industrial structure upgrading.

Impact of the Development of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions --Panel Data Analysis Based on Prefecture-Level Cities in Guangdong Province

With the increasingly severe global climate change problem, low-carbon development has become the consensus of the international community. Based on the panel data of 21 prefecture-level cities in Guangdong Province, China, from 2011 to 2021, this paper analyses in depth the relationship between digital economy and carbon emissions, and explores the impact of digital economy development on carbon emissions and its transmission mechanism. The study finds that: first, the impact of digital economy on carbon emissions is heterogeneous in different regions, with a significant inverted U-shaped relationship between the digital economy and carbon emission levels in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and the eastern part of Guangdong, while the relationship in the northern part of Guangdong and the western part of Guangdong, which are still in the construction stage of the digital economy, is not significant; second, in the early stage of the development of the digital economy, the maturity of its characteristics will lead to the high inputs and high costs in the process of digital transformation which in turn raises the level of carbon emissions in production and life; third, as the digital economy continues to mature, the early capital, human and technological inputs gradually show a positive net effect, significantly reducing the level of carbon emissions through improved energy use efficiency and optimisation and upgrading of industrial structure. Based on the above findings, the following recommendations are put forward: first, formulate a digital economy emission reduction strategy; second, optimize the construction of digital infrastructure; third, promote the upgrading of industrial structure; fourth, strengthen green technological innovation; fifth, improve the policy incentive mechanism; and sixth, strengthen the coordinated development of the region.

The Impact of the “Belt and Road” Initiative on Industrial Structure Upgrading Along the Corridor

The “Belt and Road” initiative functions as a novel impetus for China’s external economic development within the framework of the new normal of economic growth. By leveraging panel data from 30 provinces and regions across China for the period of 2010 to 2020, this research assesses the influence of the “Belt and Road” initiative on the enhancement of the industrial structure along its trajectory. The findings indicate that: the most notable influence on the rationalization and progress of the industrial structure is observed in the eastern region, with the central region following suit, whereas the western region has yet to exhibit a significant transformation. The analysis delves into the role of technological innovation, concluding that the initiative primarily catalyzes optimization and upgrading through the effect of technological advancement. The study advances several pertinent policy recommendations to support and enhance these developments.

Research Investigating the Influence of the Digital Economy on the High-Quality Advancement of New Urbanization in the Yellow River Basin

The rapid development of the digital economy poses both opportunities and challenges for the process of new urbanization. This study utilizes inter-provincial panel data covering the period from 2012 to 2021 in the Yellow River Basin. It employs fixed-effect, mediation effect, and threshold effect models to examine how the digital economy affects the high-quality development of new urbanization in the area. Key findings of the study indicate that the digital economy has a positive impact on the high-quality development of new urbanization in the Yellow River Basin through its facilitation of industrial structure upgrading. The impact exhibits a non-linear “marginal effect,” transitioning from slower to faster growth rates. This paper aims to establish a basis for decision-making and policy formulation aimed at enhancing the high-quality development of the digital economy within the context of new urbanization in the Yellow River Basin.

The Urban-rural Income Gap, Urbanization, the Upgrading of Industrial Structure, and Agricultural Labor Productivity

Agricultural labor productivity reflects the relationship between labor factor input and economy in the agricultural industry, and improving agricultural labor productivity is an important way to achieve agricultural modernization and high-quality agricultural development. Based on the VAR model and Granger causality test, this paper conducts an empirical analysis of the impact of urban-rural income gap, urbanization, industrial structure upgrading, and agricultural labor productivity in China from 1981 to 2020, and concludes that there is a long-term cointegration relationship between urban and rural income gap, urbanization and industrial structure upgrading and agricultural labor productivity. In the long run, the urban-rural income gap and industrial structure upgrading have a positive impact on agricultural labor productivity. Urbanization has a negative impact on the improvement of agricultural labor productivity, so relevant suggestions are given.

How does carbon emissions trading affect China’s energy intensity?

The carbon emissions trading policy should be an essential factor influencing the environment and the economy, and should have a crucial impact on energy intensity. This study analyzed data for 29 regions of China from 2005 to 2020, and applied the synthetic control method to assess the impact of carbon emissions trading on energy intensity. The results show that the carbon trading policy significantly reduced energy intensity in the pilot regions. Specifically, from 2013 to 2020, carbon emissions trading decreased energy intensity in Tianjin, Shanghai, Hubei, and Chongqing by 17.92%, 29.22%, 23.89%, and 16.33%. The results of the mechanism test show that carbon emissions trading reduce energy intensity through technology improvements and industrial structure upgrading.

Digital finance and industrial structure upgrading: Evidence from Chinese counties

The county-level economy holds the potential for future economic growth in China, but traditional finance faces challenges in meeting the needs of county-level economic development and industrial structure upgrading. Digital finance plays a vital role in addressing the challenges faced in county-level development. This study empirically examines the impact and underlying mechanisms of digital finance on industrial structure upgrading using panel data from 1385 counties in China from 2014 to 2020. The empirical results indicate that the development of digital finance significantly promotes industrial structure upgrading, and this finding holds even after conducting a series of robustness tests. Mechanism analysis suggests that digital finance stimulates industrial structure upgrading in the county by fostering entrepreneurial activity and promoting social consumption. Cross-sectional analysis further reveals that the impact of digital finance is more pronounced in regions with lower levels of traditional finance development and efficiency, as well as lower levels of economic development. Additionally, the influence of digital finance diminishes from central to eastern and western regions of China.

Analysis of human capital effects introducing Bayesian quantile regression in the process of industrial structural upgrading.

In recent years, with the continuous evolution of the global economy and the adjustment of industrial structures, the understanding of the role played by human capital in the process of economic development has become particularly important. However, existing research on the impact of human capital on economic growth often adopts traditional regression methods, failing to comprehensively consider the heterogeneity and nonlinear relationships in the data. Therefore, to more accurately understand the influence of human capital on economic growth at different stages, this study employs Bayesian quantile regression method (BQRM). By incorporating BQRM, a better capture of the dynamic effects of human capital in the process of industrial structure upgrading is achieved, offering policymakers more targeted and effective policy recommendations to drive the economy towards a more sustainable direction. Additionally, the experiment also examines the impact of other key factors such as technological progress, capital investment, and labor market conditions on economic growth. These factors, combined with human capital, collectively promote the upgrading of industrial structure and the sustainable development of the economy. This study, by introducing BQRM, aims to fill the research gap regarding the impact of human capital on economic development during the industrial structural upgrading process. In the backdrop of the ongoing evolution of the global economy and adjustments in industrial structure, understanding the role of human capital in economic development becomes particularly crucial. To better comprehend the direct impact of human capital, the experiment collected macroeconomic data, including GDP, industrial structure, labor skills, and human capital, from different regions over the past 20 years. By establishing a dynamic panel data model, this study delves into the trends in the impact of human capital at various stages of industrial structure upgrading. The research findings indicate that during the high-speed growth phase, the contribution of human capital to GDP growth is 15.2% ± 2.1%, rising to 23.8% ± 3.4% during the period of industrial structure adjustment. Technological progress, capital investment, and labor market conditions also significantly influence economic growth at different stages. In terms of innovation improvement, this study pioneers the use of BQRM to gain a deeper understanding of the role of human capital in economic development, providing more targeted and effective policy recommendations. Ultimately, to promote sustainable economic development, the experiment proposes concrete and targeted policy recommendations, emphasizing government support in training and skill development. This study not only fills a research gap in the relevant field but also provides substantive references for decision-makers, driving the economy towards a more sustainable direction.

The impact of digital finance on business environment: Mediating role of industrial structural upgrading and moderating role of digital infrastructure

In the digital wave of the 21st century, digital finance, as a new financial services model, has profoundly changed the global business environment. Based on data from Chinese prefecture-level cities from 2011 to 2020, this study examines the relationship among digital finance, the business environment, the upgrading of industrial structure, and the level of digital infrastructure. The results show that digital finance has a positive mediation effect on the business environment. Industrial structural upgrading plays an intermediary role in this process, while the level of digital infrastructure acts as a moderator. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that digital finance has a stronger promoting effect on the business environment in the eastern and central regions compared to the western regions.