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ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Evaluation, Dynamic Evolutionary
Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Green
Innovation Efficiency in China
1
School of Economics and Trade, Fujian Jiangxia University, Fuzhou 350108, China
2
Institute of Economics and Management, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361024, China
3
School of Digital Economy, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
Submission date: 2024-02-18
Final revision date: 2024-04-10
Acceptance date: 2024-04-27
Online publication date: 2024-07-30
Publication date: 2025-01-09
Corresponding author
Yihui Chen
College of Digital Economy, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 350002, Fuzhou, China
College of Digital Economy, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 350002, Fuzhou, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2025;34(2):1607-1619
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Green innovation efficiency (GIE), which reflects the relationship between inputs and outputs that
consider environmental impacts, is critical to China’s realization of green and sustainable development.
In view of the differences in economic development and resource endowment across provinces, it is
necessary to measure and evaluate the GIE in a rational manner. In this paper, we study the evaluation,
dynamic evolutionary characteristics, and influencing factors of GIE for 30 provinces in China over the
period 2011-2022, using the super-SBM undesirable model, the spatial Markov chain model, and the
geographically and temporally weighted regression model, respectively. Results show that the eastern
region has a significantly higher GIE than the other regions, followed by the central region. Also, the
state of provincial GIE in China is affected by the level of neighboring regions. GDP per capita, the
marketization index, and industrial structure promoted GIE, while R&D expenditure, import and export
trade, and the digital financial inclusion index showed negative results. There is also spatiotemporal
heterogeneity in the effects of individual factors on GIE. Thus, a one-size-fits-all policy for GIE is
highly unsuitable for the realities of individual provinces in China. We propose a number of targeted
and differentiated policy recommendations that can be implemented.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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