Abstract
The Global-Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index was applied to analyze the carbon productivity in steel industry (SICP) of 29 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019, and then, the SICP was decomposed into technical efficiency change index (TC) and technical progress index (EC). On this basis, the spatial effect is introduced into the traditional convergence model to investigate the spatial convergence of SICP. The empirical results show that: (1) the overall carbon productivity of China’s steel industry is at a relatively low level, showing a slow growth trend. (2) The average value of the GML index of SICP is higher than 1, showing obvious inter-provincial and regional heterogeneity. Compared with TC, EC is the leading factor that promotes the increase of SICP. (3) The spatial absolute and condition β convergence of SICP exist in the whole country and the three major regions, but the σ convergence feature is not significant. The addition of spatial factors speeds up the convergence trend, and the speed of spatial absolute β convergence is about 3 times that of the classical convergence model. At the same time, the conditional convergence rate is significantly faster than the absolute convergence, which is closely related to the differences in influencing factors such as the industrial structure, economic development level, human capital, energy consumption intensity, and R&D investment among regions. There is still much room for improvement in carbon productivity in China’s steel industry, and investment in scientific research must be increased in order to achieve the upgrading of the industrial structure and technological innovation. The existence of spatial convergence requires strengthening the joint reorganization of steel enterprises between provinces and regions, making full use of the spatial spillover effects of production technology, and realizing regional green and coordinated development.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
References
Ahmed Z, Asghar MM, Malik MN, Nawaz K (2020) Moving towards a sustainable environment: the dynamic linkage between natural resources, human capital, urbanization, economic growth, and ecological footprint in China. RESOUR POLICY 67: 101677
An R, Yu B, Ru L, Wei YM (2018) Potential of energy savings and CO2 emission reduction in China’s iron and steel industry. APPL ENERG 226:862–880
Aslam B, Hu J, Hafeez M, Ma D, AlGarni TS, Saeed M, Abdullah MA, Hussain S (2021) Applying environmental Kuznets curve framework to assess the nexus of industry, globalization, and CO2 emission. Environ Technol Innovat 21: 101377
Barro RJ (1991) Economic growth in a cross section of countries. Q J Econ 106
Baumol WJ (1986) Productivity Growth, Convergence, and Welfare: What the Long-Run Data Show. Am Econ Rev 76
Bekun FV, Emir F, Sarkodie SA (2019) Another look at the relationship between energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and economic growth in South Africa. SCI TOTAL ENVIRON 655:759–765
Chen Z, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Zhong Z (2021) Inter-regional economic spillover and carbon productivity embodied in trade: empirical study from the Pan-Yangtze River Delta Region. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 28:7390
Cheng Y, Sun Y, Wng X, Yin J (2019) Research on the impact of global scientific and technological innovation on carbon productivity and countermeasures. China Popul Resour Environ 29:30–40
Dai T (2015) A study on material metabolism in Hebei iron and steel industry analysis. Resour Conserv Recyc
Du K, Li J (2019) Towards a green world: How do green technology innovations affect total-factor carbon productivity. ENERG POLICY 131:240–250
Emir F, Balcilar M, Shahbaz M (2018) Inequality in carbon intensity in EU-28: analysis based on club convergence. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 26:3308–3319
Gouyette C, Perelman S (1997) Productivity convergence in OECD service industries. STRUCT CHANGE ECON D 8:279–295
Haini H (2021) Examining the impact of ICT, human capital and carbon emissions: evidence from the ASEAN economies. Int Econ 166:116–125
Han D, Fu Q, Gao S, Zhang X, Feng J, Chen X, Huang X, Liao H, Cheng J, Wang W, Lespes G (2019) Investigate the impact of local iron–steel industrial emission on atmospheric mercury concentration in Yangtze River Delta, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 26:5862–5872
He Y, Liao N, Rao J, Chen Z (2021) Energy conservation path of China iron and steel industry driven by relative policies. ENERG EFFIC 14
Hou M, Yao S (2019) Towards a green world: how do green technology innovations affect total-factor carbon productivity. ENERG POLICY 131:240–250
Huang B, Meng L (2013) Convergence of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in urban China: a spatio-temporal perspective. APPL GEOGR 40:21–29
Jahanger A, Usman M, Ahmad P (2021) A step towards sustainable path: the effect of globalization on China’s carbon productivity from panel threshold approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
Jobert T, Karanfil F, Tykhonenko A (2010) Convergence of per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the EU: Legend or reality? ENERG ECON 32:1364–1373
Kaya Y, Yokobori K (1997) Environment, energy, and economy: strategies for sustainability. United Nations University Press
Kortelainen M (2008) Dynamic environmental performance analysis: a Malmquist index approach. ECOL ECON 64:701–715
Kuramochi T (2016) Assessment of midterm CO2 emissions reduction potential in the iron and steel industry: a case of Japan. J CLEAN PROD 132:81–97
Li C, Zuo J, Wang Z, Zhang X (2020) Production- and consumption-based convergence analyses of global CO2 emissions. J CLEAN PROD 264: 121723
Li J, Huang X, Sun S, Chuai X (2019a) Spatio-temporal coupling analysis of urban land and carbon dioxide emissions from energy consumption in the Yangtze River Delta region. Geographic Res 38:2188–2201
Li J, Huang X, Yang H, Chuai X, Wu C (2017) Convergence of carbon intensity in the Yangtze River Delta, China. HABITAT INT 60:58–68
J Li XF M, Yuan Q, 2019 Evaluation and influencing factors' analysis of regional carbon emission efficiency ActaSci Circum 39 4293 4300
Li L, Lei Y, Pan D (2016a) Study of CO2 emissions in China’s iron and steel industry based on economic input–output life cycle assessment. NAT HAZARDS 81:957–970
Li M, Wang J (2021) Spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of total factor productivity in China’s logistics industry under low-carbon constraints. ENVIRON SCI POLLUT R
Li Q, Li G, Gao X, Yin C (2019b) Analysis of regional gap and spatial convergence the of agricultural total factor productivity growth. Chin J Agric Resour Reg Plan 40:28–36
Li RJ, Zhang L, Zhao L (2016b) China’s clean energy use, factor allocation structure and carbon productivity growth based on production function with energy and human capital. Resour Sci 38:645–657
Lin S, Zhang Z, Liu G (2013) Technological innovation, spatial agglomeration and regional carbon productivity. China Populat Resour Environ 23:36–45
Liu X, Sheng S, Wang K (2017) Whether economic spatial agglomeration can increase carbon productivity or not? Econ Rev 107–121
Liu X, Zhang C (2010) Analysis of total factor productivity growth and its convergence of China’s service industry. J Quantitat Tech Econ 27:55–67
Lu T (2016) Study on development status of china carbon finance market, international experience and countermeasures. Meteorol Environ Res 7:32–35
Ma S, Wen ZG, Chen JN, Wen ZC (2014) Mode of circular economy in China’s iron and steel industry: a case study in Wu'an city. J CLEAN PROD
Martin WE, Wise Bender H, Shields DJ (2000) Stakeholder objectives for public lands: rankings of forest management alternatives. J ENVIRON MANAGE 58:21–32
Meng M, Niu D (2012) Three-dimensional decomposition models for carbon productivity. Energy 46:179–187
Mikayilov JI, Galeotti M, Hasanov FJ (2018) The impact of economic growth on CO2 emissions in Azerbaijan. J CLEAN PROD 197
Miketa A, Mulder P (2005) Energy productivity across developed and developing countries in 10 manufacturing sectors: patterns of growth and convergence. ENERG ECON 27:429–453
Miller SM (2002) Total factor productivity and the convergence hypothesis. J MACROECON 24:267–286
Oh DH (2010) A global Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index. J PROD ANAL 34:183–197
Paul EJ (2010) Dynamic panels with endogenous interaction effects when T is small. REG SCI URBAN ECON 40
Ping Z, Wu X, Wu X (2020) Spatial-temporal differences and its influencing factors of carbon emission efficiency in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Ecol Econ 36:31–37
Riasanovsky NV, Gerschenkron A (1963) Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective: A Book of Essays. SLAVIC REV 22:579
ShangGuan F, Liu Z, Ruiyu Y (2021) Study on implementation path of “carbon peak” and “carbon neutral” in steel industry in China. China Metal 31:15–20
Song M, Zhang L, Liu W, Fisher R (2013) Bootstrap-DEA analysis of BRICS’ energy efficiency based on small sample data. APPL ENERG 112:1049–1055
Song X (1996) China’s regional economic development and its convergence. Econ Res 38–44
Strazicich MC, List JA (2003) Are CO2 emission levels converging among industrial countries? ENVIRON RESOUR ECON 24:263–271
Sun H, Deng X (2018) Research on regional carbon productivity convergence in China from the industrial perspective. Explorat Econ Issues: 167–175
Sun Z, Tao J (2020) An estimation of the potential for cooperation in steel production capacity among one belt and one road countries from 2019 to 2028. J Lanzhou Univ Finance Econ 36:11–22
Tang Z, Liu W, Song T (2018) Province based carbon productivity influencing factors dataset of China (2010, 2015). J Global Change Data Discover 2:156–162
Wang S, Huang Y, Zhou Y (2019) Spatial spillover effect and driving forces of carbon emission intensity at the city level in China. J GEOGR SCI 29:231–252
Wang S, Wei C (2020) spillover effect of environmental regulation and industrial carbon productivity: empirical research based on provincial panel data in China. Geograph Geo-Inform Sci 36:83–89
Wang X, He F, Zhang L, Chen L (2018) Energy efficiency of China’s iron and steel industry from the perspective of technology heterogeneity. Energies 11:1247
Wang X, Lin B (2017) Factor and fuel substitution in China’s iron & steel industry: evidence and policy implications. J CLEAN PROD 141:751–759
Wang X, Wang S (2018) Study on the changse and convergence of energy productivity in the service sectors: a cross-country (region) analysis. J Quantitat Tech Econ 35:42–59
Wen J, Mughal N, Zhao J, Shabbir MS, Niedbała G, Jain V, Anwar A (2021) Does globalization matter for environmental degradation? Nexus among energy consumption, economic growth, and carbon dioxide emission. ENERG POLICY 153: 112230
Westerlund J, Basher SA (2008) Testing for convergence in carbon dioxide emissions using a century of panel data. Environ Resource Econ 40:109–120
Wu L, Qian H, Tang W (2014) Selection mechanism between emission trading and carbon tax based on simulation of dynamic marginal abatement cost. Econ Res 49:48–61
Xiao L, Bao Z, Tian B (2018) Study on the developmentt Index and spatial convergence of service industry in China. J Quantitat Tech Econ 35:111–127
Xie H (2018) Research on the impact of global value chain embedding on Chinese carbon emissions and its productivity. Chongqing University, p. 147
Xu Y, Zhao Y (2019) Regional differences and convergence analysis of total factor productivity changes in China’s information service industry. J Quantitat Tech Econ 26:49–60
Yang N, LI Y, Lv C, Zhao M, (2020) Carbon mission accounting and peak forecasting of iron & steel industry in Tangshan. Environ Eng 38:44–52
Yang X, Li X, Zhou D (2015) Study on the difference and convergence of carbon productivity in China’s manufacturing industry. J Quantitat Tech Econ 32:3–20
Yi S, Huang JB, Chao F (2018) Decomposition of energy-related CO2 emissions in China’s iron and steel industry: a comprehensive decomposition framework. RESOUR POLICY: S86531954
Yu X (2015) Causes of differences in regional carbon productivity variation. China Popul Resour Environ 25:344–349
Zhang B, Wang Z, Yin J, Su L (2012) CO 2 emission reduction within Chinese iron & steel industry: practices, determinants and performance. J CLEAN PROD 33:167–178
Zhang C, Cai W, Yu T (2013) Regional economic development and carbon productivity——a convergent and decoupling index analysis. China Ind Econ 18–30
C Zhang J Wang W Shi LI Y 2014 Decomposition on the fluctuation of China’s regional carbon productivity growth China PopulatResour Environ 24 41 47
Zhang Q, Xu J, Wang Y, Hasanbeigi A, Zhang W, Lu H, Arens M (2018) Comprehensive assessment of energy conservation and CO2 emissions mitigation in China’s iron and steel industry based on dynamic material flows. APPL ENERG 209:251–265
Zhang Q, Zhao X, Lu H, Ni T, Li Y (2017) Waste energy recovery and energy efficiency improvement in China’s iron and steel industry. APPL ENERG 191:502–520
Zhao Y, Haibin Z, She X, Wang G (2019) Case study on calculation method of carbon dioxide emission in iron and steel industry. Nonferrous Metals Sci Eng 10:34–40
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed equally to this work. R.T. wrote the initial manuscript draft, and X.W. performed several significant revisions.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Ilhan Ozturk
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, X., Tang, R. Research on carbon productivity and its spatial convergence of steel industry in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 49234–49252 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19409-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19409-2