Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?

Abstract In practice, the implementation of a circular economy often encounters market failures. Can government intervention, as proposed in Enns’ theory, help mitigate these failures? To address this question, this study examines the relationship between green finance and the circular economy using...

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Main Authors: Pengyu Chen, QianYing Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-08-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05626-w
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author Pengyu Chen
QianYing Chen
author_facet Pengyu Chen
QianYing Chen
author_sort Pengyu Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In practice, the implementation of a circular economy often encounters market failures. Can government intervention, as proposed in Enns’ theory, help mitigate these failures? To address this question, this study examines the relationship between green finance and the circular economy using data from 279 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021. The findings reveal that green finance significantly promotes the development of the circular economy. Second, green finance fosters circular economy growth primarily by increasing social lending and driving innovation. Third, the impact of green finance on the circular economy is more pronounced under stringent environmental regulations, heightened public awareness of environmental issues, and lower pollution levels. Fourth, green finance exhibits positive spatial effects, meaning it benefits both local and neighboring cities’ circular economies. Finally, the green finance-driven circular economy contributes to carbon neutrality. This study evaluates the effectiveness of green finance and offers policy recommendations for advancing green finance and circular economy development in China and other developing countries.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Springer Nature
record_format Article
series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-c0da1a4ad42c40539917ea807632bcf42025-08-20T03:42:26ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-08-0112111410.1057/s41599-025-05626-wTwo birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?Pengyu Chen0QianYing Chen1Inner Mongolia UniversityInner Mongolia UniversityAbstract In practice, the implementation of a circular economy often encounters market failures. Can government intervention, as proposed in Enns’ theory, help mitigate these failures? To address this question, this study examines the relationship between green finance and the circular economy using data from 279 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2021. The findings reveal that green finance significantly promotes the development of the circular economy. Second, green finance fosters circular economy growth primarily by increasing social lending and driving innovation. Third, the impact of green finance on the circular economy is more pronounced under stringent environmental regulations, heightened public awareness of environmental issues, and lower pollution levels. Fourth, green finance exhibits positive spatial effects, meaning it benefits both local and neighboring cities’ circular economies. Finally, the green finance-driven circular economy contributes to carbon neutrality. This study evaluates the effectiveness of green finance and offers policy recommendations for advancing green finance and circular economy development in China and other developing countries.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05626-w
spellingShingle Pengyu Chen
QianYing Chen
Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
title_full Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
title_fullStr Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
title_full_unstemmed Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
title_short Two birds with one stone: can green finance drive the circular economy?
title_sort two birds with one stone can green finance drive the circular economy
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05626-w
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AT qianyingchen twobirdswithonestonecangreenfinancedrivethecirculareconomy