Basin ecological compensation and urban green total factor productivity:
evidence from typical trans-provincial river basins in China
摘要
The uneven distribution of ecological and economic factors within basins has led to issues such as wage disparities for similar work and significant development gaps. As a systemic mechanism to promote the realization of ecological product value and address the externalities of ecological protection, ecological compensation plays a pivotal role in advancing green urban development within river basins. This study investigates the ecological compensation practices in 11 typical trans-provincial river basins in China, Using urban panel data from 2008 to 2021 and a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach, the research identifies and examines the impact of trans-provincial basin ecological compensation (TBEC) policies on urban green development and their underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal that TBEC significantly enhances the level of urban green development through structural and technological effects, leading to an increase of 0.026 units in green total factor productivity (GTFP). The effectiveness of these policies is influenced by factors such as the involvement of the central government, the relative location within the basin, and the financial pressures faced by local governments. Finally, the study proposes policy recommendations, including expanding the scope of ecological compensation, enhancing its effectiveness, and improving the precision and diversity of policy implementation.