Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment

Expanding a high level of openness and attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI) while preventing foreign-invested enterprises from relocating to host countries to reduce costs and circumvent environmental regulation (ER) in their home countries, which can transform host countries into...

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Main Authors: Zhaoyang Zhao, Yuhong Chen, Chong Ye, Lorenzo Lotti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/586
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author Zhaoyang Zhao
Yuhong Chen
Chong Ye
Lorenzo Lotti
author_facet Zhaoyang Zhao
Yuhong Chen
Chong Ye
Lorenzo Lotti
author_sort Zhaoyang Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Expanding a high level of openness and attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI) while preventing foreign-invested enterprises from relocating to host countries to reduce costs and circumvent environmental regulation (ER) in their home countries, which can transform host countries into “pollution heaven”, present a significant challenge for emerging markets such as China. Based on a theoretical analysis that integrates various frameworks, this study constructs a panel regression model to empirically investigate the relationship between ER and the quality of FDI. This analysis is conducted from the perspectives of administrative means and market mechanisms, utilizing panel data from 267 prefectural-level cities in China spanning the years 2005 to 2021. This study reveals the following conclusions: (1) The implementation of ER significantly enhances the quality of FDI within cities, a conclusion that remains robust across various tests. (2) ER improves the quality of FDI through two key pathways: enhancing green competitiveness and fostering green technological innovation. (3) In comparison to the isolated effects of administrative and market mechanism policies, the synergistic effect of these two approaches proves to be more pronounced in elevating the quality of FDI. (4) ER exerts a significant impact on the quality of FDI, particularly within sub-samples of cities characterized by higher levels of environmental protection and a focus on non-resource-oriented activities. (5) ER has a negative spatial spillover effect on FDI quality. This study serves as a valuable guide for emerging markets to enhance environmental policy effectiveness and assess the potential for a new open economic system.
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spelling doaj-art-942e0a72d8e341778a54b9d4e9ddc9392025-08-20T02:01:19ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542024-12-01121258610.3390/systems12120586Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct InvestmentZhaoyang Zhao0Yuhong Chen1Chong Ye2Lorenzo Lotti3School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, ChinaSchool of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, ChinaInstitute for Sustainable Resources, The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources, University College London, London WC1H 0NN, UKExpanding a high level of openness and attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI) while preventing foreign-invested enterprises from relocating to host countries to reduce costs and circumvent environmental regulation (ER) in their home countries, which can transform host countries into “pollution heaven”, present a significant challenge for emerging markets such as China. Based on a theoretical analysis that integrates various frameworks, this study constructs a panel regression model to empirically investigate the relationship between ER and the quality of FDI. This analysis is conducted from the perspectives of administrative means and market mechanisms, utilizing panel data from 267 prefectural-level cities in China spanning the years 2005 to 2021. This study reveals the following conclusions: (1) The implementation of ER significantly enhances the quality of FDI within cities, a conclusion that remains robust across various tests. (2) ER improves the quality of FDI through two key pathways: enhancing green competitiveness and fostering green technological innovation. (3) In comparison to the isolated effects of administrative and market mechanism policies, the synergistic effect of these two approaches proves to be more pronounced in elevating the quality of FDI. (4) ER exerts a significant impact on the quality of FDI, particularly within sub-samples of cities characterized by higher levels of environmental protection and a focus on non-resource-oriented activities. (5) ER has a negative spatial spillover effect on FDI quality. This study serves as a valuable guide for emerging markets to enhance environmental policy effectiveness and assess the potential for a new open economic system.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/586environmental regulationquality of foreign direct investmentpolicy synergygreen technology innovationspatial spillover
spellingShingle Zhaoyang Zhao
Yuhong Chen
Chong Ye
Lorenzo Lotti
Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
Systems
environmental regulation
quality of foreign direct investment
policy synergy
green technology innovation
spatial spillover
title Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
title_full Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
title_fullStr Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
title_full_unstemmed Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
title_short Synergies of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Quality of Foreign Direct Investment
title_sort synergies of heterogeneous environmental regulation on the quality of foreign direct investment
topic environmental regulation
quality of foreign direct investment
policy synergy
green technology innovation
spatial spillover
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/12/12/586
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AT yuhongchen synergiesofheterogeneousenvironmentalregulationonthequalityofforeigndirectinvestment
AT chongye synergiesofheterogeneousenvironmentalregulationonthequalityofforeigndirectinvestment
AT lorenzolotti synergiesofheterogeneousenvironmentalregulationonthequalityofforeigndirectinvestment