Effects of technological innovation on eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relation between technological innovation modes and their impact on eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China. Design/methodology/approach – This paper first constructs a model to evaluate and measure the eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in China from 2006 to 2010. Second, this paper compares the role of technological innovation modes – specifically, domestic independent innovation, foreign technology import and domestic technology transfer – in improving eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in the Eastern, Central and Western regions of China by logarithmic regression. Findings – The study finds that domestic independent innovation has a positive significant influence in improving eco-efficiency of industrial enterprises in the Eastern region; domestic technology transfer has a positive significant role in the Central region; and foreign technology import and domestic technology transfer positively affect the Western region. Originality/value – This paper is the first to identify the role of technological innovation modes in improving eco-efficiency. The findings can help enterprises in the three regions adopt the most effective technological innovation mode. In addition, the results provide valuable insights into policy development to improve China’s overall eco-efficiency and to balance economic and industrial development among the three regions.

The influence of technological innovation and human capital on environmental efficiency among different regions in Asia-Pacific

“…Using the super-efficiency DEA technique, they analyzed urban collection of eco-efficiency and their findings indicated that technological progress improves the growth rate of eco-efficiency. Wan et al (2015) examined the impact of technological innovation on eco-efficiency in the industrial sectors in China and their findings were that, overall, technological innovation improves environmental efficiency. Yasmeen et al (2020) also investigated the roles of technological innovation in eco-efficiency in China.…”

On green market segmentation under subsidy regulation

“…Our study is relevant to the literature regarding the effects of environmental regulations on firms’ behaviour and on social welfare, including Carraro and Soubeyran (1996), Amacher and Malik (2002), Fischer et al (2003), Drake et al (2010), Krass et al (2013), Atasu et al (2013), Lao (2014) and Wan et al (2015), etc. For instance, Carraro and Soubeyran (1996) assumed that a firm possesses both “dirty” and “clean” technologies and found that emission taxes induce firms to clean production technology, which reduces output, raises prices and hampers consumers’ surplus.…”

Green innovation peer effects in common institutional ownership networks

“…Based on the theory of social interaction, existing studies have suggested that to avoid the negative results of uneconomical costs and uncertain outcomes caused by resource and capacity constraints, firms imitate their peers in the same social network or those with similar characteristics in the process of making and implementing decisions, thereby highlighting peer effects (Manski, 1993, 2000). For example, Wang and Chu (2022) studied Chinese listed manufacturing firms and found that firms closely follow their peers' green innovation within the same industry, which also highlights green innovation peer effects. Additionally, Tan et al (2022) regarded firms in upstream and downstream industries as peers and found that peer firms influence the quality of green innovation.…”