国家可持续发展实验区能否促进社会公平?——基于多时点双重差分模型的政策效应评估

Can the National Sustainable Development Experimental Zones Promote Social Equity:Policy Effect Evaluation Based on the DID Model With Multiple Time Periods

国家可持续发展实验区设立所蕴含的代际公平和代内公平理念,在时空维度下对促进社会公平的作用不容忽视。鉴于此,本文从机会均等和结果公平的双重视角,以实验区设立这一政策为准自然实验,基于2004—2020年179个地级市的面板数据,使用多时点双重差分模型实证分析了国家可持续发展实验区设立对当地社会公平的影响。研究发现:首先,国家可持续发展实验区设立能够缩小当地城乡收入差距。其次,国家可持续发展实验区设立对胡焕庸线以东南地区实验区和绿色生态型实验区在结果公平改善方面的正向作用更明显。再次,国家可持续发展实验区设立通过提供基础教育、医疗卫生和扩大社会保险覆盖面等机制保证机会均等,间接提升结果公平,但基础设施这一作用机制并不显著。最后,国家可持续发展实验区设立通过时空层面的调节效应,以更加公正的方式实现社会公平,起到了二次公平的效果。本文为国家可持续发展实验区进一步促进社会公平提供了理论基础和实证证据。

In recent years,China’s development has shifted from an extensive mode to a sustainable,high‐quality model,with an increasing emphasis on government intervention to promote social equity.The principles of intergenerational and intragenerational equity are embedded in the national sustainable development experimental zones(NSDEZs),and their role in improving social equity in spatial and temporal dimensions should not be overlooked.Although existing literature has carried out systematic research on the pilot work of NSDEZs,there is a lack of research focusing on social equity.Consequently,further exploration is required to test the policy effects and theoretical mechanisms for improving social equity.This study uses data from 179 prefecture‐level cities from 2004 to 2020.Based on the quasi‐natural experiment of the establishment of NSDEZs,this study uses the DID model with multiple time periods to test the impact of NSDEZs on social equity and its mechanisms,focusing on both equal opportunity and outcome equity.We find that the establishment of NSDEZs significantly contributes to the improvement of outcome equity.Specifically,the positive effect on social equity is particularly pronounced in experimental zones located southeast of the Hu‐Line,as well as those with a green ecology theme.NSDEZs indirectly promote outcome equity by ensuring equal opportunities through provisions of fundamental education,healthcare,and the expansion of social insurance coverage.However,strengthening infrastructure development does not emerge as a significant driver of such improvement.Further examination demonstrates that the pilot policies achieve targeted regulation at the spatio‐temporal level,thus achieving social equity in a more equitable manner.This paper contributes to existing literature in the following aspects.First,it empirically examines the policy role of national sustainable development in fostering social equity,employing a DID model with multiple time periods to address the shortcomings of previous research focusing on the policy impact of NSDEZs.Second,it comprehensively explores and tests the theoretical mechanisms by which NSDEZs influence local social equity through improving access to basic education,healthcare,and social insurance.This enriches both theoretical and empirical research on the improvement of social equity within NSDEZs.Third,based on the principles of intergenerational and intragenerational equity inherent in sustainable development,this study explores and verifies the secondary effects of NSDEZs on equity.