Study On The Impact Of Exports On Energy Efficiency Of Chinese Manufacuring Firms

International trade and environmental protection are two important global issues related to human development and welfare.Since the beginning of the 21 st century,China’s export trade has grown rapidly and become the "engine" of economic growth,but it has also led to massive energy consumption and seious environmental pollution problems.Under the current energy supply constraint in China,the development of green trade with high eficiency,intensive and low-carbon has become an inevitable requirement for high-quality economic development,and an important way to achieve the goal of "double carbon".Therefore,it is of great theoretical and practical significance to explore whether China’s export trade can promote the improvement of energy efficiency of manufacturing enterprises,and through which channels and mechanisms exports can play a role in improving energy efficiency of enterprises.Based on the current situation and theoretical analysis,this paper adopts the PSM method to empirically test whether export behavior affects energy of manufacturing enterprises by matching the data of China Industrial Enterprise Database,Enterprise Pollution Database and Customs Import and Export Database from 2000 to 2007,and adopts a multi-dimensional panel fixed-effects model to investigate the impact of export on energy efficiency of manufacturing enterprises,its mechanism and channels.A thorough discussion is conducted.The focus is on the channels through which exports affect energy efficiency through technical and structural effects,and the relationship between exports and energy efficiency is further explored through digitalization and greening as the moderating mechanisms.It is found that the energy efficiency of exporting firms is improved faster compared to non-exporting firms.In the mechanism analysis,this paper finds that exporting enterprises improve their energy efficiency through technology effect and structural effect,and the level of digitalization and greening accelerates the positive contribution of exporting to energy efficiency.In terms of heterogeneity,non-state exporters located in non-resource-based regions,without subsidies,mainly in light industry and mainly in general trade have significantly improved their energy efficiency.Based on the above studies,policy recommendations for promoting high-quality and green development of China’s foreign trade under resource and environmental constraints are proposed in terms of actively expanding external circulation,enhancing enterprises’ technological R&D capability and adjusting energy structure,promoting digitalization and government greening orientation,respectively.