The impact of Internet development on carbon emission efficiency of industrial sector: the threshold effect ofmultiple environmental regulations

Abstract

Under the background of carbon emission constraint and Industrial intelligent transformation, the extent to which Internet development affects the carbon emission efficiency of industrial sector (CEEI) has been increasingly focused. Using China’s provincial data during the period of 2011 to 2020, this study illustrates the impact of Internet development on CEEI and the role of different types and intensities of environmental regulatory tools in the relationship. The following conclusions could be drawn from this study. (1) Internet development will promote the CEEI. And the relationship is influenced by multiple environmental regulations, namely, command-controlled environmental regulation (CER), market-incentive environmental regulation (MER) and voluntary public participation environmental regulation (VER). For the whole sample, the enhancement effect of Internet development across the CER threshold on CEEI is weakened. when MER is between its two thresholds, the boost effect will be greatest. And under the VER threshold effect, the relationship presents an inverted U-shaped. (2) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the influence of Internet development on CEEI varies in different regions under the threshold of three types of environmental regulation tools. Therefore, the government should implement a diversified portfolio of environmental regulation policies, and give full play to the maximum effect of Internet development on CEEI promotion according to regional characteristics, thereby promoting industrial green transformation and upgrading.