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This paper selected the data of 284 prefectural-level cities in China in the time range of 2011 to 2020 as the research sample, and established an index system of sustainable development consisting of 22 indicators including economic development, social progress, ecological environment and public institutions and so on, to comprehensive evaluate the sustainability of the cities. Total annual investment in pollution control is selected as the proxy variable of reform, and annual actual amount of foreign investment used is selected as the proxy variable of openingup, to empirically explore the impact of the two on sustainable development. The results of empirical analysis show that reform and opening-up has a significant positive impact on sustainable development. After fixing time and individual effect, it is found that the effect of reform is more prominent. Regional heterogeneity analysis shows that, the impact strength of reform and opening-up in the east is larger than that in the middle and west of China. To study the spatial auto-correlation and spillover effect, Moran's I was calculated and spatial Durbin model was constructed based on the weight matrix of geographical distance, which produced the results that spatial agglomeration is evident for sustainability, and that reform has a significant positive spillover effect. Further, considering the time auto-correlation of sustainability, a dynamic panel model is established, and dynamic threshold regression is carried out. Results show that lag effect of sustainability is significant, and a certain threshold must reform reach can sustainable development be promoted. This paper puts forward several policy suggestions in terms of formulating effective sustainable development strategy, to provide insights for new-pattern urbanization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the evidence from listed company microdata and data from 285 cities in China, this paper studies the coordinated development of two-way FDI (CDFDI) in improving green energy efficiency (GEE). In particular, this paper examines the spatial heterogeneity effects of CDFDI on GEE. The results showed that CDFDI had a positive impact on the GEE of local and surrounding cities. Mechanistic examinations show that the effects of CDFDI on GEE are mediated by technological diffusion, nationalization, and environmental regulation. After dividing different city types, the impact of CDFDI is also different. By constructing a spatial decay weight matrix, this paper also finds that the positive spatial spillover effect of CDFDI is limited to 1050 KM. Finally, different investment motive portfolios also has a heterogeneous impact on the local and surrounding cities' GEE. After dividing the time nodes, the effect of this heterogeneity is more prominent. • We use multiple undesired output indicators covering eight pollutants to measure green energy efficiency (GEE). • CDFDI has a significant boost to GEE in local and surrounding cities. • The impact of CDFDI on GEE is moderated by technological diffusion, nationalization, and environmental regulation. • The spatial spillover effects of CDFDI are heterogeneous by city category and geographic distance. • CDFDI with different investment motives has heterogeneous effects on local and surrounding cities' GEE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial structure upgrading (ISU) plays an important role not only as an important issue in China's economic structure transformation, but also as a key factor in terms of implementing a "win-win" situation between economic growth and environmental protection. The full implementation of the central environmental protection supervision system’s (CEPSS) function in fostering the modernization of China's industrial structure is crucial for the country's economic restructuring and the development of eco-civilization. By applying the double difference (DID) model, this paper has analyzed the policy effect and impact mechanism of the CEPSS on the ISU, in order to explore the effectiveness of the CEPSS on ISU. The research results based on the panel data integrated from 283 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2019 reveal that: (1) the CEPSS has significantly improved the ISU; (2) the CEPSS was able to act on the ISU through three paths: local government environmental governance motivation, innovation level, and foreign direct investment; (3) The heterogeneity analysis reveals that the promotion function of the CEPSS on the ISU chiefly exists in large cities, super cities, non-resource-based cities and cities in eastern and central China. The research results shall provide theoretical support and policy suggestions for rationally optimizing the CEPSS and promoting the ISU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PM2.5 pollution seriously affects the environment, human health and socio-economic development, which has garnered wide-spread attention. Technological innovation plays a great role in PM2.5 concentration. Thus, better understanding of the influence of technological innovation on PM2.5 concentration is necessary. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) was selected as the study area. This paper explored the spatial characteristic of PM2.5 concentration and technological innovation. Then, bivariate Moran's I was applied to analyzed the spatial correlation between technological innovation and PM2.5 concentration. The geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model was applied to explore the spatial heterogeneity of the influence of technological innovation on PM2.5 concentration, and geographical detector model was applied to reveal the interactive influence between technological innovation and other factors. The main conclusions were as follows. (1) No city's PM2.5 concentration fell below the standard which is considered harmless to human health. Cities in the northwest of the YRD had higher PM2.5 concentration. (2) Cities in the core region of the YRD had relatively higher technological innovation. (3) There existed negative spatial correlation between technological innovation and PM2.5 concentration, and three local spatial correlation types were found. (4) Technological innovation contributed to the decrease in PM2.5 concentration. The interactive influence between technological innovation and natural factors was generally greater than that between technological factors and socio-economic factors. Comparing to other socio-economic factors, technological innovation and foreign investment had greater interactive influence on PM2.5 concentration. Finally, some policy recommendations were drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The study used the NDDF model to measure the efficiency of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance. • We identified the spatial aggregation patterns of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance efficiency. • We compared the magnitude of the drivers of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance efficiency. • There is an east-high and west-low development pattern of carbon mitigation. • The findings suggest enhancement of the capability of urban coordinated governance in carbon mitigation. This paper is based on the construction of the evaluation system of urban pollution reduction and carbon reduction synergistic governance efficiency indicators. Firstly, we used the NDDF model to measure the efficiency of urban pollution reduction and carbon reduction synergistic governance. We then used the ArcGIS technology and spatial autocorrelation method to explore its spatial distribution pattern, and the spatial econometric model is used to explore its driving factors. The results show that from 2006 to 2020, the synergistic governance efficiency of Chinese cities in terms of pollution reduction and carbon reduction is in a state of continuous improvement, with an increase of 38.07 per cent in 2020 compared with 2006, and overall the synergistic governance efficiency of cities in terms of pollution reduction and carbon reduction shows a pattern of development in which the east is high and the west is low, but there is a tendency for the gap to narrow from one year to the next. There is a positive spatial aggregation of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance efficiency, which is further shown by the Lisa aggregation diagram that the spatial aggregation of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance efficiency in China is characterized by urban agglomerations, with the high and high aggregation zones being concentrated in the central and eastern urban agglomerations, such as the urban agglomerations of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and Guangdong-Fujian-Zhejiang, and the low and low aggregation zones being concentrated in the western urban agglomerations, such as the Lanzhou-Western urban agglomerations and the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomerations. The results of the SDM model indicate that the efficiency of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance can significantly promote the process of pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance in neighboring areas. The six drivers, namely, industrial structure, economic development level, innovation level, urbanization rate, population size and foreign direct investment, all have a significant impact on the efficiency of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance in a local area. The spatial spillover effects of the remaining variables, except for urbanization rate, on the efficiency of urban pollution reduction and carbon synergistic governance are significantly negative. Based on this, corresponding countermeasures are proposed to improve the synergistic governance of urban pollution reduction and carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban expansion in emerging urban areas has drawn plenty of attention. The Greater Mekong Region (GMR) has experienced dramatic urbanisation and urban land expansion in recent decades. Based on built-up area data from the World Bank compiled over the 2000–2010 period, this paper integrates geographical, socioeconomic and physical factors to explore the underlying patterns and dynamics of urban land expansion in the GMR. An explicit and critical emphasis is placed on institutional conditions. The growth of built-up areas in the GMR has concentrated heavily in the capital cities and coastal areas. Additionally, the transitional countries have shown more dramatic expansion. The results of multi-level models suggest that urban developments in the GMR are not only sensitive to local contexts, such as distance to coastlines, accessibility factors and population growth rates, but are also closely associated with country-level factors, such as country political systems, and patterns of economic growth and foreign investment. We also find that the demographic measures of urbanisation have more influence in Thailand, while measures of economic growth have more marked impacts in the transitional countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly investigates how 2008's Beijing Olympic Games affects environmental efficiency of China's cities. First, we evaluate environmental efficiency through metafrontier directional distance function (DDF), and compare environmental efficiency in different region from static and dynamic perspectives. We also analyze the different treatment of before Olympic Games, during Olympic Games, after Olympic Games on different groups. We find that TGR in the east is the highest, which indicates that environmental production technology in the east has relatively less difference than other three regions. During Olympic Games positively affected environmental efficiency in Beijing, which negatively affected on environmental efficiency under metafrontier in neighbor cities. After Olympic Games positively affected environmental efficiency in Beijing and co-host cities, however, which has insignificant effect on environmental efficiency in neighbor cities. We try to propose some policy implication. First, it is import to develop high-end industry and lengthen value chain of China's secondary industry. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve environmental threshold of FDI and attract clean FDI, which can decrease environmental pollution. Last, China will host 2022 Winter Olympic Games. It is important to use more environmental-soundly building material, and increase clean renewable energy public bus, which can promote green Olympic Games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectacular growth of Chinese cities since the 1980s is often theorised as reflecting the advantages of latecomer development (ALD). ALD has been more effective in cosmopolitan, globally accessible coastal cities than outer cities. As leading cities, like Shanghai, close the development gap, the potential for 'easy' ALD growth falls off rapidly. Because institution building is more difficult than firm-based growth, ALD strategies may generate rapid short-term economic growth but not sustainable development. Accordingly, Chongqing municipality, with a population of 33 million, in West China, is pursuing a beyond latecomer advantage model. This is characterised by: (i) reducing poverty and rural-urban disparity through accelerated urbanisation, rural-urban integration and emphasising human resource development; (ii) upgrading the value added of Chongqing's economy through targeting of FDI and incentives to local start-ups; (iii) endogenous development, reducing risks from external shocks; (iv) Hukou reform; (v) establishing a land use conversion certificate market to rationalise land use; (vi) emphasis on morality to address crime/corruption; (vii) recognition of the importance of amenity in attracting investment and talent; and (viii) establishing a longer developmental time perspective. This paper explores this Chongqing model in detail. 摘要 中国自20世纪80年代以来所取得的辉煌经济增长，在很大程度上是基于其引进外资和利用后发优势来实现的。而后发优势的推进，在国际化大都市和那些拥有全球通达性的沿海城市会更为有效。作为先锋性城市，如上海等，随着与全球城市发展的差距日益缩小，'易于'实现后发优势的潜力就会迅速消失，这是因为制度建设要比以企业为基础的经济增长更难推进，因此后发优势或许能带来快速的短期经济增长，但并不能带来当然的可持续发展。有鉴于此，重庆市，这座拥有3300万人口的中国西部城市，正在寻找一条'超越后发优势'的发展道路。这一模式目前正在成长中，表现出如下特征：（1）通过加快城市化进程、城乡融合发展和强调人力资本开发，减少贫困和城乡差别；（2）通过引进外资和刺激本地企业创业，提升重庆市的经济附加值；（3）通过内生性发展，减少外部动荡所引起的风险；（4）通过农村集体土地资产的创新性盘活，有效地进行户籍改革；（5）通过建立土地市场的流转证制度，优化城乡土地的利用效率；（6）通过强调道德建设和反腐倡廉以及强有力的打击犯罪，提升全体市民的向心力和士气；（7）通过强调环境质量在吸引投资和人才方面的重要作用，加快外向型和宜居型城市的发展步伐；（8）通过建立公务员服务质量评价体系，倡导长期发展观，以推进经济社会发展的持续平衡性。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between economic growth and industrial pollution emissions in China using data for 112 major cities between 2001 and 2004. Using disaggregated data, we separate foreign direct investment inflows from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan from those of other foreign economies. We examine two industrial water pollution indicators (wastewater and petroleum-like matter) and four industrial air pollution indicators (waste gas, sulfur dioxide, soot, and dust). Our results suggest that most air and water emissions rise with increases in economic growth at current income levels. The share of output of domestic- and foreign-owned firms increases several pollutants in a statistically significant manner while output of firms from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan either reduces pollution or is statistically insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of global integration, the peri-urban area (PUA) of megacities in Asia has become a favourite destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). This paper uses the PUA of Shanghai as a case study to investigate the impact of global forces on the urban expansion of the city, and the link between urban growth and sustainable development in this mega-urban context. Shanghai has grown impressively during the past two decades in terms of economic and physical transformation. Much of this transformation has rested on the unbridled exploitation of land and other environmental resources in its peri-urban area. This is characterised by the designation of development zones and the concentration of manufacturing FDI, resulting in dispersed growth and environmental degradation. The disruption of the physical environment, combined with the concentration of the urban poor in these areas (in particular ‘temporary migrants’), has turned the PUA into a potential crisis point threatening the social and economic development of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]