Spatial econometric analysis reveals that formal and informal environmental regulations promote green innovation across Chinese cities, indicating a need for regionally tailored policies.
Key Points
To examine the distinct, interactive, and spatially heterogeneous effects of formal and informal environmental regulations on urban green technology innovation.
Analyzed an empirical panel dataset across 284 prefecture-level cities in China.
Applied ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) models to evaluate spatial and urban heterogeneity.
Both formal and informal environmental regulations positively impacted green technology innovation, with formal regulation displaying a substantially stronger effect alongside a positive synergistic interaction.
The regulatory benefits declined along an east-to-west gradient and followed a core-periphery spatial structure.
The positive impacts of formal regulations, informal regulations, and their interaction decreased as city size diminished.