Economic growth model, structural transformation, and green productivity in China

This study investigates the impacts of investment-driven economic growth model, as well as rationalization and upgrading of the industrial structure on green productivity in 30 Chinese provinces over the period 1997-2010. Two total factor productivities (TFP), namely energy adjusted TFP and energy and carbon dioxide emissions adjusted TFP (denoted as TFEE and TFCE respectively), are estimated using super-efficiency DEA models, and used as indices to reflect green productivity performance in China. The main results of the empirical study are as follow: (1) China's economic growth model does not improve both TFEE and TFCE; (2) the flow of laborers from the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries helps to improve TFEE and TFCE, while capital transformation does not produce the same effect; (3) the structural changes in the manufacturing industry produce negative and positive effects on TFEE and TFCE respectively.