Measuring the green economic growth in China: Influencing factors and policy perspectives

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 241; p. 122518
• Main Authors: Lin, Boqiang, Zhou, Yicheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.02.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: China; Economic analysis; Economic development; Economic growth; economic sustainability; Economics; energy; Entropy; environmental law; Environmental regulations; Green economic growth; Green economy; Influencing factors; Innovations; issues and policy; Population number; population size; Qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; Regional development; Spatiotemporal evolution; Sustainable development; Technological change; technology; Urbanization; China; Influencing factors; Spatiotemporal evolution; China; Green economic growth
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.122518

Green economic growth and sustainable development complement each other, promoting green economic growth has important practical significance. However, the existing research focuses on qualitative analysis and less on quantitative analysis of the green economic growth. This study constructs a comprehensive index system of green economy, and uses entropy weighted TOPSIS method to evaluate the green economic growth from 2000 to 2017 in China. This study shows that:(1) Since the 21st century, China's green economy has been constantly improved. Ecological civilization and social progress are the main support for green economic growth. Economic development is secondary, and innovation-driven is lagging behind. (2) There are obvious regional differences in green economic growth. The eastern region is obviously better than the central and western regions, but the overall regional differences are shrinking. At the same time, the green economic growth shows obvious spatial agglomeration effect. (3) Population size, economic development level, technological innovation, industrial structure, urbanization, environmental regulation and FDI have impacts on the green economic growth, but the spatial effect of each influencing factor is different. In the process of developing the green economy, policy-makers should fully combine the spatiotemporal evolution of the green economy and its influencing factors, and make targeted policies. •This paper measures China's green economic growth.•Entropy weighted TOPSIS framework is employed.•China has made great progress in green economic growth.•China's green economic growth has obvious regional heterogeneity.•China's green economic growth has a spatial effect.