Within‐ and across‐province agglomeration of LEED certifications in China

This paper investigates the adoption patterns of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in China, analyzing data from 2010 to 2021. We find that builders' choices of certification levels are positively correlated within each province. However, for commercial buildings, builders differentiate from each other in the choice of certification levels. The study also identifies spatial spillovers of LEED certification across nearby provinces. We propose potential explanations for these findings and discuss their policy implications. The results suggest that the design of certification schemes should account for the strategic behavior of firms. Additionally, regional policies promoting green building certifications may have spillover effects, encouraging adoption in neighboring regions.