How technological innovation impacts urban green economy efficiency in emerging economies: A case study of 278 Chinese cities

Abstract Clarifying the relationship and mechanism between technological innovation and the green economy efficiency (GEE) will improve the growth of the urban green economy for emerging economies. In the case of 278 Chinese prefecture cities, the data envelopment analysis game cross-efficiency model was used to measure the GEE between 2003 and 2017. In addition, the spatial econometric model was employed to explore the relationship and the transmission mechanism between technological innovation and the GEE from the perspectives of natural resources and urbanization. The heterogeneity of urban development was also brought into the analysis. The main results are as follows. (1) The GEE had positive spatial correlations. (2) Nationally, the intensive effect of technological innovation was significant and could considerably improve the GEE. (3) Due to the heterogeneity of urban development, there were large differences in the relationships and mechanisms between technological innovation and the GEE. Accordingly, that “unilateral” green economy construction efforts may not achieve ideal results. Therefore, neighboring cities should actively create green economy city cluster to achieve regionally common development. The eastern local governments could accelerate the transformation of the urban economy and promote the upgrading of green standards in industry through technological innovation. It is important for the central city governments to guide researchers to change the focus of their research, whereas the western region relies on attracting researchers to realize green economic development. Our results not only contribute to advancing the existing literature, but also are of considerable interest to policy makers and urban planners in emerging economies.