Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China

This study investigates the impact of comprehensive reforms on the economic development and environmental protection of resource-based cities in China within the context of the ‘National Sustainable Development Plan for Resource-based Cities (2013–2020)’. Employing a difference-in-differences method...

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Main Authors: Hewang Liu, Xiuyu Li, Shilin Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/521
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author Hewang Liu
Xiuyu Li
Shilin Zheng
author_facet Hewang Liu
Xiuyu Li
Shilin Zheng
author_sort Hewang Liu
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the impact of comprehensive reforms on the economic development and environmental protection of resource-based cities in China within the context of the ‘National Sustainable Development Plan for Resource-based Cities (2013–2020)’. Employing a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that these reforms not only bolster economic stability but also significantly enhance urban ecological environment, resulting in a win–win outcome for economic prosperity and environmental preservation. Our analysis reveals that the reforms drive sustained economic growth and ecological enhancement by downsizing industries, adopting green technologies, and optimizing industrial composition. Moreover, we identify that these impacts are more pronounced in mature and declining cities and in regions with robust official promotion strategies and stringent environmental regulations. These findings provide valuable insights for addressing the “resource curse” within social systems and for formulating policies that balance stable economic growth and environmental protection in resource-based cities.
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issn 2079-8954
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series Systems
spelling doaj-art-6eb8eac266ce43bbb7e1c90c7feb52072025-08-20T02:56:51ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542024-11-01121252110.3390/systems12120521Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in ChinaHewang Liu0Xiuyu Li1Shilin Zheng2Business School, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, ChinaBusiness School, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, ChinaInstitute of Quantitative & Technological Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing 100732, ChinaThis study investigates the impact of comprehensive reforms on the economic development and environmental protection of resource-based cities in China within the context of the ‘National Sustainable Development Plan for Resource-based Cities (2013–2020)’. Employing a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that these reforms not only bolster economic stability but also significantly enhance urban ecological environment, resulting in a win–win outcome for economic prosperity and environmental preservation. Our analysis reveals that the reforms drive sustained economic growth and ecological enhancement by downsizing industries, adopting green technologies, and optimizing industrial composition. Moreover, we identify that these impacts are more pronounced in mature and declining cities and in regions with robust official promotion strategies and stringent environmental regulations. These findings provide valuable insights for addressing the “resource curse” within social systems and for formulating policies that balance stable economic growth and environmental protection in resource-based cities.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/521resource-based citiesstable economic growthecological qualitytechnological effectsspatial spillovers
spellingShingle Hewang Liu
Xiuyu Li
Shilin Zheng
Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
Systems
resource-based cities
stable economic growth
ecological quality
technological effects
spatial spillovers
title Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
title_full Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
title_fullStr Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
title_full_unstemmed Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
title_short Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Conservation: Assessing Supportive Policies in Resources-Based Cities in China
title_sort balancing economic growth and environmental conservation assessing supportive policies in resources based cities in china
topic resource-based cities
stable economic growth
ecological quality
technological effects
spatial spillovers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/521
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AT xiuyuli balancingeconomicgrowthandenvironmentalconservationassessingsupportivepoliciesinresourcesbasedcitiesinchina
AT shilinzheng balancingeconomicgrowthandenvironmentalconservationassessingsupportivepoliciesinresourcesbasedcitiesinchina