ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Nonlinear Effect of Farmland Management Scale
Expansion on Agricultural Eco-Efficiency:
A Moderating Effect of Service Outsourcing
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1
College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
2
School of Economics and Management, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou 239000, China
3
Science and Technology Department, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
4
Real Estate Registration Center, Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Yantai Economic
and Technological Development Zone, Yantai 264006, China
Submission date: 2023-06-05
Final revision date: 2023-07-17
Acceptance date: 2023-07-22
Online publication date: 2023-09-25
Publication date: 2023-11-10
Corresponding author
Qiang Gao
College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, 159 Longpan Road, 210037, Nanjing, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(6):5527-5541
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ABSTRACT
Agricultural eco-efficiency is a crucial indicator for measuring the green and sustainable
development of agriculture. This study utilizes provincial panel data from 2006 to 2019 to measure
agricultural eco-efficiency while integrating carbon emissions and carbon sinks. A two-way fixed effect
model and a nonlinear quadratic term model are utilized to investigate whether expanding farmland
management scale contributes to enhancing agricultural eco-efficiency. The research results indicate
that agricultural eco-efficiency is at a moderate level and exhibits a positive trend with an average
annual growth rate of 1.28%. The relationship between farmland management scale and agricultural
eco-efficiency is characterized by an inverted U-shaped nonlinear association. Appropriate management
scale is essential for promoting green development of agriculture and is validated even after conducting
endogenous and robustness tests. The research identified a significant moderating effect of service
outsourcing, where a higher degree of service outsourcing results in a flatter inverted U-shaped curve
mentioned above. Moreover, the non-linear relationship between the scale of agricultural land and
agricultural eco-efficiency has become more significant after the reform of “separation of the three
rights” and in the east and central regions. Finally, based on the above conclusions, the paper provides
specific recommendations for improving agricultural eco-efficiency.