Intellectual Property Protection and Synergizing the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment

Abstract

The Chinese government is implementing a Synergizing the Reduction of Pollution and Carbon Emissions (SRPC) strategy to shift to green development. This study aims to assess whether a good intellectual property (IPR) environment is conducive to SRPC in Chinese cities. Based on data from 284 cities in China from 2004–2019, we employ the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response-Management (DPSIRM) model to measure SRPC levels at the city level. We then use China's Intellectual Property Model City (IPMC) pilot policy as a quasi-natural experiment and apply a multi-period difference model to investigate the impact of establishment on urban SRPC. The study finds that the IPMC pilot policy promotes urban SRPC, and the findings hold after rigorous robustness tests. The mechanism is that the IPMC pilot policy promotes green technology innovation (GTI), draws government attention, and optimizes elements allocation. In addition, the heterogeneity test shows that the effect is greater in the Northeast cities as well as in small and medium-sized cities, while the effect is not significant in the West. Our findings provide theoretical and practical insights into how China can enhance IPR protection to advance SRPC.