Research On The Impact Of Local Government Competition On Green Total Factor Productivity

Under the dual economic and political incentives generated by the Chinese-style decentralization system,there has long been fierce competition among local governments to compete for limited resources to develop the regional economy,that is,"competition for growth." This unique competitive model has successfully mobilized the enthusiasm of local governments to develop the economy and has become an important engine driving the rapid economic growth of our country.However,at the same time,the extensive economic development mode of high energy consumption and high pollution brought about by the competition of local governments also restricts China’s realization of green transformation and upgrading.As China’s economy has transformed from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development,it is urgent to reshape the local government competition mechanism and make it a new driving force for China to achieve green and sustainable development.Based on the background of Chinese-style decentralization,this paper thoroughly examines the impact of local government competition on green total factor productivity.First,on the basis of summarizing the existing theories and research,it analyzes the mechanism of China’s local government competition affecting green total factor productivity and proposes corresponding research hypotheses.Secondly,it measures the intensity of local government competition and green total factor productivity,and analyzes the temporal trend and spatial distribution characteristics of variables based on the measurement results.Finally,an econometric model is constructed to empirically test the impact of local government competition on green total factor productivity and its mechanism.This article mainly draws the following conclusions:(1)During the sample period,the degree of local government competition in China has been stable and slightly decreased,and the intensity of local government competition has shown a spatial distribution characteristic of "high in the west and low in the east".Green total factor productivity is showing a downward trend.The deterioration of green technology efficiency is the main reason for the decline of China’s green total factor productivity,and green total factor productivity shows a spatial distribution characteristic of "high in the east and low in the west".(2)Local government competition has a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of green total factor productivity,and this inhibitory effect is established in China’s eastern,central and western regions,but the strength of the impact is regionally heterogeneous.(3)On the one hand,local government competition will inhibit the growth of green total factor productivity by causing weakening of environmental regulations,fiscal production expenditure bias,and industrial agglomeration.On the other hand,it has also promoted the increase of green total factor productivity through the effect of technology accumulation,but this positive promotion effect is very limited.Therefore,overall local government competition still presents a significant negative impact on the growth of green total factor productivity.Based on the above conclusions,this article puts forward the following policy recommendations:(1)Promote green and diversified performance evaluation,and guide local governments from competition for growth to competition for high-quality development.(2)Guide the rational layout and orderly gathering of industrial sectors,and promote energy conservation and consumption reduction and clean production of industrial enterprises.(3)Strengthen the implementation and supervision of environmental regulations,and give full play to the positive role of environmental regulations.(4)Increase public welfare expenditures and improve the structural imbalance of fiscal expenditures.(5)Strengthen R&D and innovation activities,and enhance the ability to accumulate technology and transform scientific and technological achievements.