Abstract Comprehensive bonded zones (CBZs) are not only the spatial carrier for the export-oriented economy, but also an important factor influencing the regional land-use carbon emission efficiency (LUCEE). Drawing on China’s provincial panel data spanning from 2004 to 2019, this paper conducts an empirical analysis of the impact of the construction of CBZs on regional LUCEE and its mechanism. The findings reveal that the construction of CBZs exerts a suppressive effect on regional LUCEE. This conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests. Moreover, the impact of CBZs on LUCEE exhibits heterogeneity upon geographical location, environmental regulation level, and industrial transfer direction. CBZs can impede the enhancement of regional LUCEE through FDI scale effect and energy consumption intensity effect. Additionally, the economic growth pressure can promote the suppression of regional LUCEE by CBZs. The conclusions offer a valuable reference for the central government to reevaluate the construction practices of CBZs.
Liu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.