外商直接投资的环境门槛效应研究——中国省级数据的检验

Study on Threshold Effects of Foreign Direct Investment on Environment: Tests Based on Provincial Data in China

文章利用1995-2009年中国29个省级地区的面板数据,通过门槛估计方法,从收入水平、人力资本和环境规制三种渠道,实证考察了外商直接投资(FDI)对环境的门槛效应。研究表明,FDI对中国环境存在显著的门槛效应:在高人均收入、高人力资本或高环境规制阶段,FDI显著改善了中国环境质量,而在低水平阶段则相反。对研究期内各省区门槛变量变化的分析表明,当前FDI只对少数省区环境有积极影响;但随着各地区收入、人力资本和环境规制的提升,此种积极影响正在逐步增强。

Based on the panel data 29 provinces during 1995-2009, utilizing the threshold regression estimation, through per capita income, human capital and environmental regulation channels, this paper empirically tests the threshold effects of FDI on China＇s environment. Results show that there are significant threshold effects of FDI on environment in China; when the per capita income, human capital and environmental regulation in investment areas are high, FDI will bring positive effects on local environment, and vice versa. From the analysis on the trends of threshold variables during research period, we find that FDI only has positive effects on environment in a small number of provinces; but with the improvement of regional income, human capital and environmental regulation, such positive effects are gradually strengthening.