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Knowledge transfer is considered the efficient way to improve regional innovation, but relatively little is known about how the innovation efficiency of scientific and technological (S&T) talents is affected by knowledge transfer within institutional environment, particularly, limited studies carried out regional differentiation analysis. Using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2005 and 2017, this article empirically tests the influence of the institutional environment on knowledge transfer and analyses its impact between knowledge transfer and innovation efficiency of S&T talents in China. The results show knowledge transfer can significantly improve both the scientific and the economic innovation efficiency of S&T talents. Moreover, the effects of knowledge transfer on the innovation efficiency of S&T talents in eastern, central and western China had heterogeneity. Formal and informal institutions play mediating roles between knowledge transfer and innovation efficiency of S&T talents. This study contributes to the literature by constructing an econometric model with identified variables to test the impact of knowledge transfer on the innovation efficiency of S&T talents in China, in addition, the equation about knowledge transfer was explored. The research findings are valuable to regional governments and policymakers; our empirical evidence helps to develop more efficient strategy and policy planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign direct investment (FDI) technology spillovers play an increasingly important role in a host country's development. Evaluating the positive effect of FDI inflows on green innovation is essential for correct city design. Based on the panel data of 262 cities in China from 2004 to 2018, we first analyzed the impact of FDI technology spillovers on green innovation in Chinese cities and then tested the threshold effect in four absorptive capacity factors: environmental regulation, economic growth, human capital, and industry size. Finally, we compared the time and space of two types of cities crossing the threshold from the perspective of innovative and non-innovative cities. The results show that FDI can significantly promote green innovation in Chinese cities and the promoting effect of FDI on green innovation has nonlinear characteristics, namely, such effects only make sense when absorptive capacity is above the threshold points. Additionally, among the four absorptive capacity factors, the development degrees of innovative cities are ahead of non-innovative cities; in particular, there is a significant difference between them in terms of economic growth. Local governments should develop reasonable policy combination tools according to the absorptive capacity characteristics of different cities to effectively promote the technology spillover effect of FDI and achieve coordinated ecological and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities are important parts of innovation ecosystems, and university technology transfer (UTT), which aims for the sustainable commercialization of sci-tech achievements, is closely related to other actors in the ecosystem. Based on the panel data of 31 provinces in mainland China, this paper empirically analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of UTT levels from 2011 to 2019 and estimates the influencing factors using the spatial Durbin model (SDM) with an economic spatial weighting matrix from the perspective of innovation ecosystems. The results are presented as follows: (1) Although the overall level of UTT in China is low, it shows an upward trend in most provinces. In addition, the interprovincial gap is obvious, forming a ladder distribution of UTT levels increasing from west to east. (2) There is a significant spatial autocorrelation between UTT levels in the provinces. (3) Industry, economy, and informatization play significant roles in promoting UTT, while financial institutes and openness have significant inhibitory effects. The economy has a significant spatial spillover effect on UTT, while government, industry and informatization have a significant inhibitory effect on UTT in neighboring regions. (4) The direct and indirect effects of influencing factors in the Eastern Region and other regions show significant spatial heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interregional collaboration is a core element of Chinese innovation policy, as it accelerates the knowledge recombination across geographic boundaries and promotes regional R&D performance. This study emphasizes interregional collaboration and investigates its effect on R&D productivity using 2009–2017 panel data for 30 Chinese provinces. Furthermore, it examines the relationship between interregional research collaboration and interregional gaps of R&D productivity based on a multistage perspective. Our findings reveal that although interregional collaboration and R&D productivity in China constantly improved during the study period, there is to some extent a mismatch in their spatial distribution. We find that interregional collaboration is required to support overall R&D productivity. We also emphasize that interregional collaboration contributes more to narrowing the interregional gaps of knowledge productivity (rather than technology transfer productivity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation is intrinsically dependent on the construction of local infrastructure. Using panel data on 285 cities in China, we empirically examined the impact of high-speed rails on urban innovation and the mechanism underlying this effect. We found that high-speed rails significantly increase urban innovation. In our analysis, high-speed rails were found to increase the agglomeration of innovation factors, including population and investment, which in turn increase urban technological innovation. The agglomeration of investment factors brought about by high-speed rails is the main source of the improvement in urban innovation. Through the use of a spatial panel model, we found that high-speed rails promote knowledge dissemination and technology spillovers among the cities along high-speed railways, thus improving their innovation levels. However, the existing effects of high-speed rails on innovation exhibit spatial heterogeneity. We confirmed the effect of high-speed rails on innovation and explored the mechanism underlying this effect by considering the effects of factor agglomeration and knowledge spillovers. Our conclusions can be used as a resource by policymakers to stimulate knowledge and technology diffusion, which in turn cultivates and stimulates urban innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's economy continues to grow rapidly, the importance of green and sustainable development is increasingly prominent. In this context, enterprises have undergone significant changes in all aspects of the value creation process. Based on the data of Chinese a-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021, this paper links the digital transformation of enterprises with the green technology innovation of enterprises. The focuses on the relationship between the enterprises' digital transformation and the enterprises' green innovation and its Local-neighborhood effect. Research shows that the digital transformation of enterprises will promote the enterprise green technology innovation, and this relationship will have a Local-neighborhood effect in different regions, and this spatial spillover effect is mainly achieved through the transfer of high-tech industries between regions. The results of heterogeneity test show that the effect of green technology innovation is the strongest in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle, and the weakest in Pearl River Delta economic circle. Based on the spatial econometric model, this paper provides empirical evidence for the government and the state to formulate the regional development strategy of enterprises' digital transformation and green innovation. • Spatial panel Durbin model reveals digital transformation's impact on green technology innovation and regional spillover. • The effect of digital transformation of enterprises on their own green technology innovation has a "local-neighborhood" effect. • The spatial spillover effect is mainly realized through the transfer of high-tech industries between regions. • The strongest green technology innovation effect is found in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The universities' scientific and technological activities have become the key link of science and technology and economy, and the core of promoting the national innovation capability and competitiveness. To achieve high-quality development of China's science and technology, it is of great significance to measure the efficiency of universities' scientific and technological activities accurately and explore their regional differences. Based on the innovation value chain, we construct a two-stage efficiency measure index system of universities' scientific and technological activity, and then according to the universities' statistical data in China from 2010 to 2017, by taking provincial universities as the research object, we exploit a two-stage network DEA model with shared input to measure the provincial efficiency of universities' scientific and technological activities in China; what is more, we explore the provincial differences in efficiency of universities' scientific and technological activities. Finally, we extract the influencing factors on the efficiency of universities' scientific and technological activities using the dynamic panel data model. The results show that there are serious problems in the transformation between knowledge output and results in the universities' scientific and technological activities. The scientific and technological activities of regional universities in China are not balanced. For provincial universities' efficiency of scientific and technological activities, there exist great differences among different time and space, stages, and resource utilization modes. The endogenous factors such as policy system and technology service are much more important factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of technological innovation on renewable energy development has drawn attention from scholars and policymakers. Based on a panel dataset covering 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2017, the present study aims to examine how renewable energy technological innovation (RETI), represented by patent stock considering the decay and diffusion of renewable energy technologies, promotes renewable power generation (RPG) by nonspatial and spatial econometric models. The results indicate that 1) a 1% increase in the RETI level of a particular province, on average, leads to a 0.411% increase in RPG in that province directly and a 3.264% increase in RPG in its neighboring provinces through technology diffusion; 2) the effect of RETI on RPG will be underestimated by 12.7% if the decay and diffusion of technologies are not considered; 3) the estimation coefficients of RETI are insufficiently sensitive to the values of the decay and diffusion rates; 4) spatial dependence plays a vital role in exploring the impact of RETI on RPG, and this impact will be underestimated by 34.3% if spatial dependence is ignored. • Renewable energy technological innovation (RETI) contributes to renewable power generation. • Indirect effect of RETI on renewable power generation is 8 times greater than direct effect. • Coefficients can be underestimated if technological decay and diffusion are not considered. • Effect of innovation is not sensitive to the decay or diffusion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using panel data from 2008 to 2017 in 30 provinces and cities in eastern, central and western my country, the Theil index is used to analyze the status quo of regional economic gaps. Then, the spatial effect is introduced to establish a spatial econometric model of the impact of industrial transfer, multiple capital allocation and their interaction on regional economic disparity. Results Table It shows that the economic disparity between and within the eastern, central and western regions is gradually decreasing over time, among which, the economic development within the eastern, central and western regions is Disequilibrium is the main source of uncoordinated regional economic development in my country. In the eastern region, industrial transfer and financial capital as well as industrial transfer and technological capital The interaction of capital is an important factor to promote the convergence of regional economic gap; in the central region, the interaction of industrial transfer and financial capital has a significant impact on the provincial economy. The narrowing of the gap has a catalytic effect; in the western region, the interaction between industrial transfer and technical capital and human capital is conducive to narrowing the economic gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latecomer technology imitation and learning is an important driving force to enhance their competitiveness and total factor productivity (TFP). This paper constructs green TFP (GTFP) based on the SBM–Global–Luenberger index, using Chinese provincial panel data from 2003 to 2017. The marginal effects of foreign direct investment (FDI), outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), import and export, and intangible and total international technology spillovers (ITS) on GTFP were assessed. These effects were analysed under the influence of absorption capabilities such as research and development intensity, economic and financial, and openness. A spatial diffusion model based on three diffusion sources in China's first-tier cities, Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, was constructed to describe the heterogeneous impacts of ITS on GTFP under the marketisation of diffusion sources. We found: (1) ITS based on exports and OFDI promote economic, imports and FDI are relatively small, independent technological innovation is the dominant source of economic growth. (2) Considering spatial diffusion, the contribution of Beijing's ITS is relatively weak, and Shanghai's contribution is stronger. Coastal areas have the largest marginal effect of ITS on GTFP, and ITS do not attenuate as geographic distances increase. (3) The market has a multiplier effect, modifying the relationship between ITS and GTFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at explaining the difference in e-participation (or online public participation) across countries using a conceptual model that is quantitatively analyzed using panel data. The model is based on the theories of policy feedback and socio-technical approach in the participation literature and explores the mediating and moderating role of technology on institutions. The technology variable is measured along four dimensions of information and communication technology (ICT), namely, infrastructure, affordability, skills, and usage. The institutions variable is measured along the two dimensions of political and regulatory environment and political rights and civil liberties. The study is significant as it quantitatively analyzes a complex longitudinal relationship between institutions, technology, and e-participation and finds support for institutions' role as antecedents to technology. Findings inform that ICT skills play a mediating role while ICT infrastructure and usage act as moderator for institutions' impact on e-participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world faces various challenges in terms of environmental sustainability. An increasing world population, the rigidity of traditional production and consumption patterns, the complexity of economic activities, globalization, and harmful emissions intensify environmental pressures. In this context, the evaluation of various environmental policy instruments is important to alleviate environmental pressures and, thus, combat climate change. This study aims to investigate the impact of environmental taxes, renewable energy consumption, and environmental technology on the ecological footprint in OECD countries by using data from 1994 to 2018 and modern panel data techniques. The results of the AMG estimator indicate that environmental taxation and renewable energy consumption play a role in reducing the ecological footprint; however, results imply that environmental technology does not have a statistically significant effect on the ecological footprint. In addition, we applied DCCE and CS-ARDL estimators to obtain robustness results and observed that the findings remained valid. Therefore, the results of the study suggest that regulations to increase the effectiveness of environmental taxes, renewable energy consumption, and environmental technology should be promoted to ensure environmental sustainability. • We examined the impact of environmental taxes on the ecological footprint in OECD countries. • This study applied an advanced panel data model for the period 1994–2018. • Environmental taxes have the effect of reducing the ecological footprint. • DCCE and CS-ARDL approach validated the robustness of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes environmental technology development and diffusion patterns in 56 countries and for the time period 2005–2014 to provide an up-to-date assessment on underlying determinants. Foreign direct investment, human-knowledge development, institutional efficiency and quality of governance are taken into account to assess the cumulative nature of environmental technology development and diffusion. Static specifications were implemented, rejecting the EKC hypothesis and producing inverted N-shape relationships in the case of technology development and N-shape relationships in the case of diffusion. The turning points are all well within the sample and those of technology development are lower compared to the ones of diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world growth rate is mainly driven by the technologically leading economies. Technology and science are important factors in terms of increasing the growth, development and welfare level of countries. In the study, the technology phenomenon and whether the countries can be independent in terms of this phenomenon or not are also evaluated. Technological developments are important agents of change of a society both at the social and economic level. Technology is based on innovation. Various variables such as R&D expenses, R&D inputs, internet usage, number of personnel and number of patents are used to measure the innovation level. In this study, in the context of the technology phenomenon, for the 1996-2017 period, the countries which are industrialized and have high technology such as USA, Canada, Germany, Japan and France are selected. And as the important indicators of the trade performance; the relationship between imports, exports, real gross domestic product per capita and the number of patents accepted as an innovation indicator is determined. Panel data analysis method is used for this study. The model is tested by the panel data analysis and controlled whether the model provided the assumptions or not. The model is estimated by the Driscoll-Kraay resistive standard estimator. The random-effects model is included in the analysis and when the outputs are examined, it is concluded that all variables used in the model were significant in explaining the patent variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the regionally differentiated environmental regulatory means, this paper evaluates the contribution of firms' R&D investment to economic growth with interprovincial panel data on 30 provinces in China from 2009 to 2016, which is based on the time-varying threshold model. Additionally, the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) is used to measure the effects of technological innovation through enterprise collaboration for R&D input and investment-focused environment regulations. We then explore the inter-regional technology transfer path with different cooperation effects in areas and find: (i) The economic performance of the R&D investments of regional enterprises shows a downward trend with the strengthening of cost-focused ER while an inverted 'U'-shaped relationship that first strengthens and then weakens is presented with the strengthening of investment-focused ER. (ii) The degree of coupling calculated by CCDM is generally low, and synergies are improving from the west to the east, from a geographic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier studies accept that both Financial Inclusion (FI) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) individually play positive role in economic growth. Moreover, ICT applications like mobile phone and internet penetration are being increasingly utilized in banking sector. The present study has shown that ICT development can be an important determinant of Financial Inclusion by using a fixed-effect panel data model of 41 countries. The paper further contributes by highlighting the role of FI, powered by a better ICT penetration, in fostering the growth of the countries in a Dynamic Panel Data Model. The results suggest that both FI individually and once coupled with mobile and internet can improve the per capita growth. However, in developing countries, the role of ICT indicators in fostering financial inclusion and therefore growth is not very promising. From the policy perspective, it suggests that more investment in educating people about the usage of ICT in formal banking sector is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovation value chain is an effective tool for analysing innovation activities and reflects the process of value creation and increase in innovation activities. From the perspective of innovation value chains, we divided patent innovation activities into three stages: knowledge innovation stage, applied research stage and patent commercialization stage. The panel data from 64 universities directly managed by the Ministry of Education from 2009 to 2017 were used and several conclusions were drawn: 1) In the initial stage of knowledge innovation, the fundamental research fund plays a crucial promoting role, and knowledge innovation achievements are mainly published academic papers. 2) In the applied research stage, the knowledge innovation in the early stage and the fund investment in R&D activities have a significant positive effect on the patent output of universities, but the personnel investment has a negative effect. 3) In the final stage of patent commercialization, preliminary research results have a positive impact on patent commercialization, whose marginal effect depends on the industry-university-research relationship, external competition and reputation of the university. The evidence showed that there is a feedback channel between university patent commercialization and knowledge innovation, and new knowledge generated by the interaction with the outside world in the process of patent commercialization was transmitted to the subject of knowledge innovation through this channel, forming a virtuous dynamic cycle. By analysing the driving factors of the value chain of patent innovation in colleges and universities, we provided empirical evidence for the operation mechanism and policy formulation of college patents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased agricultural trade liberalization, high productive inefficiency in agriculture has kept Africa as a net importer of agriculture products. Empirical studies have focused on the trade liberalization–productivity growth nexus and overlooked the efficiency linkage. Also the role of regional trade agreements (RTAs) and institutions in reducing inefficiency in agriculture have been sidelined. We use a stochastic frontier approach and single-stage maximum likelihood estimation of a true fixed-effects panel data model for our analysis. Using maize and rice data, we provide evidence that through technology transfer, agricultural trade statistically improves technical efficiency. Moreover, results suggest that RTAs provide favourable technical efficiency effects, which varies across products and membership. Furthermore, we document that while regulatory quality reduces technical inefficiency, control of corruption increases it. Our findings call for increased role of RTAs in promoting agricultural trade liberalization. This should be complemented by further strengthening of institutions involved in the agriculture value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External transport link is one of the main factors of the urban transformation and sustainable development toward the resource- exhausted cities. Taking 69 resource- exhausted cities as the object of study, this paper characterizes the urban external transport link level by daily accessibility indicator and employs the industrial substitution industry output value to reflect the economic transformation effects. In addition, the correlation analysis and geodetector and panel data model are utilized to address the relationship between accessibility and the effectiveness of urban economic transformation and to reveal the mechanism of accessibility on the economic transformation rules and characteristics of the resource-exhausted cities. The result shows that the overall accessibility level toward the 69 cities is medium and has a positive effect on the urban industrial substitution industry scale and efficiency development. The accessibility is one of the key factors affecting the alternative industries in these resource-exhausted cities. Furthermore accessibility can indirectly promote or hinder the development of resources city economy transformation by influencing the private economy, industrial park economy, fixed asset investment and high- tech industries and so on. Superior accessibility cities usually have stronger capacity for economic transformation and development. Moreover good accessibility will not only help the alternative industries to obtain necessary resources such as science and technology, intelligence, capital, labor force, market and information, but also create favorable conditions for regional industrial cooperation, industrial transfer and investment attraction to meet the internal needs of the alternative industries layout. On the contrary, the alternative industries with the lowest accessibility and far away from the economic center cities generally tend to have sluggish development, weak economic transformation and strong dependence on traditional resource- based industries. Meanwhile, the contribution of accessibility to the development pattern of economic transformation has been gradually strengthened. In view of this, the resource-exhausted cities in different regions are suitable to adopt different transformation models and differential support policies in combination with different levels of accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that a significant percentage of the university spin-offs (USOs) have a low growth capacity, putting in question the use of public funds to promote this kind of entrepreneurship. In addition, previous studies of the USOs’ growth have not dealt with the dynamic nature of firm growth, which might have led to questionable results. This paper analyses whether the university origin of a firm conditions its growth by applying a methodology which captures this dynamic nature of growth. Using a sample of 469 Spanish USOs and an equivalently matched group of 469 Spanish non-USOs over the period 2001–2010, we find that USOs have more growth than non-USOs, both in terms of sales and employment. In addition, the USOs’ growth is influenced by a set of determinants that differ from those of non-USOs. On the basis of the results, we propose some policies to foster the USOs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many countries have considered energy subsidies, with both successes and failures. Energy subsidies often have failed to achieve their stated objective of advancing national economic, social, and technological progress. Budgetary savings from the removal of energy subsidies and the resulting upsurge in energy prices may induce the adoption of innovative technologies in a country. The economic impact of energy subsidies has been analyzed for many countries in the literature. However, this issue with energy technology innovation using panel analysis has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study is intended to discover the effect of energy subsidies on energy technology innovation in the 25 highest energy subsidy-providing countries for the period of 2010–2020, employing advanced econometric approaches. The results confirm that energy subsidies and energy technology innovation are significantly cointegrated, and the removal of energy subsidies stimulates technological innovation, which induces the adoption of a renewable-based polygeneration system. The policy implication of this paper suggests going for further innovations in energy subsidy reforms for sustainability and technological innovation for polygeneration that may contribute to clean, sustainable, and affordable energy for all (SDG-7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in international industrial transfer (IIT) provides a significant opportunity and a motivation to improve China's industrial land production efficiency (ILPE). This study aims to investigate the overall role, heterogeneous impact and indirect mechanism of IIT in improving Chinese ILPE. This paper uses the Directional Distance Functions - Data Envelope Analysis (DDF-DEA) model to measure ILPE, economic output efficiency, and pollution reduction efficiency, the Global Malmquist Luenberger (GML) index to decompose the growth of ILPE into "technical efficiency change (EC)" and "technological change (TC)". The panel data of Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2018 and the Fixed-Effect model is used to examine the impact of IIT on ILPE. The primary outcomes suggest that participation in IIT has generally improved the ILPE in China. This promotion effect is evident after 2010, and IIT has a significant impact on the improvement of ILPE in extensive and inefficient areas. Similarly, IIT promotes the economic output efficiency of industrial land from the perspective of expected output and reduces unexpected output. This impact helps in improving pollution reduction efficiency of industrial land. The technology spillover brought by IIT improves the Chinese ILPE from two channels, including promoting technological progress and improving technical efficiency. However, the technology spillover mainly promotes the ILPE in land use high-efficient areas by promoting technological progress. Likewise, the ILPE is promoted by improving technical efficiency from a regional perspective in extensive and inefficient areas. This study provides valuable insights for the improvement of ILPE to optimize land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to fill an important research gap by investigating the role of environmental-related technologies on energy demand and energy efficiency in a sample of 28 OECD economies. The current study utilizes annual data for the period of 1990–2014 and employs panel estimation techniques, which addresses the issues of cross-sectional dependence, fixed effect, and endogeneity. The results, across various estimates, confirm that environmental technology has a substantial negative influence on energy consumption and also plays an important role in improving energy efficiency by reducing energy intensity. These evidences suggest that environmental technology helps the OECD economies to reduce their overall energy consumption and improves overall energy efficiency in their respective countries. The comprehensive empirical outcomes document that financial development and income are the key determinants of energy demand. Given these results, the study proposes several fruitful implications regarding sustainable development goals of OECD countries. • The effect of environmental technology on energy demand and efficiency. • Comprehensive panel data and econometric techniques are used. • The evidences confirm that environmental technology reduces energy consumption. • The environmental technology also promotes energy efficiency. • The study offers important policy related implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the major factors that influence the CO2 emission in 12 Middle Eastern countries, namely, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. A panel model was used in this study and the period 1990–2009 was considered. The results showed that the total primary energy consumption, foreign direct investment net inflows, GDP, and total trade were important factors in increasing CO2 emission in the investigated countries. Thus, it is important for these counties to examine the requirements for foreign investment to promote environmental protection and increase the technological transfer through foreign companies to reduce the environmental damage. It is also important for them to adopt trade-related measures and policies to increase environmental protection since total trade increases CO2 emission. It is also crucial for these countries to increase energy productivity to achieve their GDP growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cheng H.; Wang B., 2019. Multiplier Effect of Science and Technology Innovation in Regional Economic Development: Based on Panel Data of Coastal Cities. In: Gong, D.; Zhu, H., and Liu, R. (eds.), Selected Topics in Coastal Research: Engineering, Industry, Economy, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 94, pp. 883–890. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Science and technology innovation is the core power of economic development, but the influence mechanism effect of science and technology innovation and economic development is still a theoretical blind spot to be elucidated. The input of science and technology innovation factors leads to the multiplier effect of economic development through three levels of diffusion to realize high external economic benefits under low capital input. Through theoretical analysis and empirical research, this paper proves that: In terms of research samples of six coastal provinces and cities from 2000 to 2017, science and technology innovation factors have a strong multiplier effect on regional economic development; the input of new type of practical patent significantly improves the regional economic level in the current period and the lag phase effect is further improved; the input of R and D investment significantly improves the regional economic level in the current period, and the promotion effect is slightly decreased in the lag phase. At present, China's economic development is gradually moving towards marketzation. We should synchronously use "visible hands" to give policy incentives to regions with high capital stock for science and technology innovation and develop the multiplier effect of science and technology innovation in economic development through various paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the enlarging inter-provincial disparities in China as regards carbon emissions and carbon intensity (carbon emissions per unit gross domestic product), this paper is the first study to investigate the inter-provincial carbon imbalance by constructing and employing the Kaya-Zenga index. We use China's panel data of provincial-level carbon emissions over 1995–2016 to quantitatively measure the levels of inter-provincial imbalance and polarization in carbon emissions and carbon intensity. Further, we decompose the Kaya-Zenga index into different contributing factors both regionally and structurally and perform a scenario analysis to identify the corresponding regionally differentiated countermeasures regarding carbon emission reduction. The results show that the imbalance in carbon emissions is mainly caused by imbalances in population scale and income level, while the imbalance in carbon intensity predominantly results from imbalances in energy efficiency and energy mix. In addition, for heavy manufacturing provinces, the respective emission-reduction strategy should aim at lowering energy intensity through local technology improvement and inter-regional technology transfer. For light manufacturing and high technology provinces, carbon emission reduction is harder to be achieved; however, a mix of policies of improving energy efficiency, optimizing energy mix, and industrial upgrading should be implemented. The results of the scenario analysis indicate that reducing imbalance in carbon intensity under different scenarios can lead to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions (up to 10%). • We investigate the inter-provincial carbon imbalance within China. • We construct the Kaya-Zenga index and decompose the index into four contributors. • We use a panel data set of 30 provincial-level regions in China over 1995–2016. • Carbon imbalance is mainly caused by imbalances in population and energy efficiency. • Reducing intra-group imbalance in carbon intensity can abate carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic growth and urbanization have been adequately studied due to their profound influence on pollution. However, the collective development of economy and urbanization poses a challenging problem in terms of reducing CO 2 emissions. One of the prerequisites for solving this problem is to examine the simultaneous impacts of economic growth and urbanization on CO 2 emissions. Within an extended STIRPAT framework, the present study aims to thoroughly investigate the combined nonlinear effects of economic growth and urbanization on CO 2 emissions using provincial panel data from China that spans the period of 1997–2016. Considering the heterogeneity and dynamicity across the panel, this is the first attempt to comprehensively explore the selected variables and the CO 2 emissions nexus by building a new two-way fixed-effects panel data partially linear additive model. The results show an inverted "U-shaped" nonlinear impact of economic growth on CO 2 emissions, but urbanization has a different influence, revealing a "roller coaster" pattern with three turning points. The results also suggest that the factor of energy consumption will lead to an increase in CO 2 emissions, while technology diffusion and industrial upgrading can facilitate the reduction of CO 2 emissions. To provide an in-depth understanding of these impacts, nonlinear marginal analyses are performed at different stages of socioeconomic advancement. In addition, the consistency of the empirical results and the merits of the suggested method are corroborated by the different estimation techniques. The conclusion recommends that the evaluation of carbon pollution needs to be heightened by further research from multidimensional perspectives, and the concepts of green production and low-carbon development should be promoted to achieve the sustainable goals of the whole society. • Explores the combined nonlinear effects of economic growth and urbanization on CO2 emissions. • Launches the methodology of panel data partially linear additive model estimation. • Shows an inverted "U-shaped" linkage between economic growth and CO2 emissions. • Reveals a "roller coaster" pattern between urbanization and CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]