This paper focuses on the total factor productivity (TFP) and high-quality economic development in China by examining 11 Chinese provinces and cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2007 to 2018. We use the Solow residual method to calculate the TFP growth rate of the 11 provinces and cities. Based on the panel data, we have analyzed the influencing factors of TFP theoretically and empirically from the overall region and upstream region, and midstream region and downstream region, respectively. The regression results show that: (1) The whole characteristics generally show the TFP growth trend of the upstream region, midstream region and downstream region are consistent with that of the overall region, and the growth rate of TFP slows down gradually. Meanwhile the differences in TFP growth between the upstream region, midstream region and downstream region show an increase at first and then a decrease. (2) Regarding the influencing factors, there are differences in the direction and extent of the impact of each factor such as the level of openness, R&D investment, industrial structure, government expenditure and human capital on the TFP of the overall region, upstream region, midstream region and downstream region. (3) Based on the results of the theoretical and empirical analysis, we have proposed a series of measures for the sustainable high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

This paper aims to identify the relationship among energy consumption, FDI, and economic development in China from 1993 to 2017, taking Zhejiang as an example. FDI is the main factor of the rapid development of Zhejiang’s open economy, which promotes the development of the economy, but also leads to the growth in energy consumption. Based on the time series data of energy consumption, FDI inflow, and GDP in Zhejiang from 1993 to 2017, we choose the vector auto-regression (VAR) model and try to identify the relationship among energy consumption, FDI, and economic development. The results indicate that there is a long-run equilibrium relationship among them. The FDI inflow promotes energy consumption, and the energy consumption promotes FDI inflow in turn. FDI promotes economic growth indirectly through energy consumption. Therefore, improving the quality of FDI and energy efficiency has become an inevitable choice to achieve the transition of Zhejiang’s economy from high speed growth to high quality growth.

The Carbon trading price (CTP) can best reflect the fluctuations of the carbon trading market. This paper comprehensively analyzes the CTP mechanism of China’s carbon trading market, discusses the main factors affecting China’s CTP, which include macroeconomic factors, energy price factors, policy factors, and environmental factors, and provides three hypotheses. In order to highlight and test the three hypotheses about the CTP, five representative carbon trading pilot markets were included: Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hubei, and Guangdong, and the daily average price data (over years) were adapted from January 2017 to December 2021, using a dynamic heterogeneous panel PMG model. The current paper selects the China air quality index (AQI), Bohai-Rim steam-coal price index (BSPI), Liquefied natural gas index (LNGI), and the Shanghai stock exchange industrial index (SSEII) as the explanatory variables. The empirical results show that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between the CTP, AQI, energy price, and macroeconomics. Strengthening environmental governance, optimizing the energy structure, and expanding the carbon trading market coverage should be adopted to improve the China carbon emission trade exchange (CCETE) and stabilize the CTP.

The purpose of this study is to examine how economic development and stability are affected by carbon trading pilot programs. Using panel data from 31 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions between 2005 and 2021, two hypotheses were tested using the DID model. The findings indicate that (1) the carbon trading market pilot program has an immediate effect on economic stability. (2) High-quality economic development is positively and significantly impacted by the carbon trading market pilot program. Regional heterogeneity exists in the effects of carbon trading pilot programs on high-quality development and economic stability. The relationship between carbon trading pilot programs and economic development is not conclusive, despite the growing number of these policies. Given this, additional investigation into this connection is required. Understanding the results of carbon trading pilot programs can be used to gauge how successful these initiatives are. This research adds to the body of knowledge regarding the impact of the carbon trading pilot programs. It then makes policy recommendations that may serve as a guide for future “double carbon” research.