Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China
The concept of “smart cities” plays a positive role in the overall green and sustainable development of a nation. However, it is still debated whether smart cities can restrain the carbon emission intensity at the micro-level and promote the green transformation of enterprises. To this end, based on...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/15/5527 |
| _version_ | 1797414045640294400 |
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| author | Yituan Liu Qihang Li Zheng Zhang |
| author_facet | Yituan Liu Qihang Li Zheng Zhang |
| author_sort | Yituan Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of “smart cities” plays a positive role in the overall green and sustainable development of a nation. However, it is still debated whether smart cities can restrain the carbon emission intensity at the micro-level and promote the green transformation of enterprises. To this end, based on China’s smart city policy (SCP) and regional enterprise data from 2008 to 2015, we study the impact of SCP on the carbon emission intensity of local enterprises, using the difference-in-differences method. The results show that SCP significantly reduces the carbon emission intensity of enterprises, and the estimated results remain significant after the propensity score matching. The mechanism analysis finds that digital transformation, innovation by enterprises, and urban green innovation all strengthen the impact of SCP on the carbon emission intensity of enterprises. The conclusions extend the scope of the existing research and provide suggestions for micro-enterprises to take advantage of SCP for better development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:27:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7773204f25b7411bb4e00dbdacfee0ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:27:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-7773204f25b7411bb4e00dbdacfee0ee2023-12-03T12:35:44ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-07-011515552710.3390/en15155527Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in ChinaYituan Liu0Qihang Li1Zheng Zhang2School of Business Administration, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, ChinaLongshan Honors School, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, ChinaSchool of Management Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, ChinaThe concept of “smart cities” plays a positive role in the overall green and sustainable development of a nation. However, it is still debated whether smart cities can restrain the carbon emission intensity at the micro-level and promote the green transformation of enterprises. To this end, based on China’s smart city policy (SCP) and regional enterprise data from 2008 to 2015, we study the impact of SCP on the carbon emission intensity of local enterprises, using the difference-in-differences method. The results show that SCP significantly reduces the carbon emission intensity of enterprises, and the estimated results remain significant after the propensity score matching. The mechanism analysis finds that digital transformation, innovation by enterprises, and urban green innovation all strengthen the impact of SCP on the carbon emission intensity of enterprises. The conclusions extend the scope of the existing research and provide suggestions for micro-enterprises to take advantage of SCP for better development.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/15/5527smart city policycarbon emission intensitydigital transformationgreen innovationdifference-in-differences |
| spellingShingle | Yituan Liu Qihang Li Zheng Zhang Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China Energies smart city policy carbon emission intensity digital transformation green innovation difference-in-differences |
| title | Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China |
| title_full | Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China |
| title_fullStr | Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China |
| title_short | Do Smart Cities Restrict the Carbon Emission Intensity of Enterprises? Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China |
| title_sort | do smart cities restrict the carbon emission intensity of enterprises evidence from a quasi natural experiment in china |
| topic | smart city policy carbon emission intensity digital transformation green innovation difference-in-differences |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/15/5527 |
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