人与自然何以和谐共生:地理要素视角下的环境规制与环境福利绩效

How to Achieve the Harmony Between Humanity and Nature:Environmental Regulation and Environmental Welfare Performance from the Perspective of Geographical Factors

“中国式现代化”对经济发展绿色化和居民福利增益化提出了明确要求。如何在尊重、顺应和保护自然的前提下充分释放环境规制的制度红利,从而有效促进以稳增长、保环境和增福祉为主要表征的环境福利绩效改善,是能否实现人与自然和谐共生的现代化的关键所在。本文首先基于地理要素这一独特视角,就环境规制对环境福利绩效的潜在影响进行了规范阐释;进而,采用混合网络数据包络分析模型对环境福利绩效进行了准确测算,并通过对政府工作报告进行文本分词处理而对各地区的环境规制强度进行了有效度量;最后,综合采用固定效应模型、调节效应模型和工具变量法等多种计量分析方法,实证考察了环境规制对环境福利绩效的影响及其作用机制。研究发现,环境规制显著促增了环境福利绩效,这一结论在进行一系列稳健性检验后依然成立。机制分析表明,地理气候条件中的平均海拔、平均地形起伏度和日照时数在环境规制对环境福利绩效的影响中表现出负向调节作用,而平均气温和降水量在环境规制对环境福利绩效的影响中表现出正向调节作用;环境规制对环境福利绩效的促增效应在东部地区、南方地区、胡焕庸线东南侧地区、较大城市与非资源型城市表现得更加明显;环境规制可以通过推动经济增长、促进技术创新、释放人才红利和优化产业结构而促增环境福利绩效。本文在为环境规制与环境福利绩效之间的因果关系提供新的理论解释、分析框架和文献证据的同时,也为在新发展格局下促进居民共享环境福利,从而实现人与自然和谐共生的现代化提供了学理支持与决策参考。

"Chinese path to modernization"makes specific requirements for greening economic development and increasing residents welfare.The pursuit of harmony between humanity and nature in China depends on how to ensure that environmental regulation(ER)sufficiently releases its dividends under the premise of respecting nature,following nature's laws and conserving nature,to improve environmental welfare performance(EWP),which is primarily characterized by stabilizing growth,protecting the environment,and increasing well-being.Firstly,from the unique perspective of geographical factors,this paper illustrates the potential impact of ER on EWP.Secondly,using a Hybrid-Network-Data-Envelopment-Analysis(DEA)model,we precisely quantify EWP,while ER is effectively measured by the text segmentation processing of the reports on the work of the government.Lastly,we use various econometric methods,including the fixed effects model,the moderating effects model,and the instrumental variable method,to empirically examine the effect and its mechanisms of ER on EWP.The results show that ER significantly improves EWP.This conclusion is confirmed by conducting a series of robustness checks.Mechanism analysis shows that the geo-climatic features,including average altitude,land relief,and sun duration have a negative moderating effect on the impact of ER on EWP,contrasting with the positive moderating effect of average temperature and precipitation.The impact of ER on EWP has a significant heterogeneity in China,with significantly improving effects on EWP in eastern China,southern China,the southeastern regions of Heihe-Tengchong Line,mega and large cities,and non-resource-based cities.ER improves EWP by promoting economic growth,stimulating technological innovation,releasing talent dividends,and upgrading industrial structure.The paper provides theoretical explanation,analytical framework,and literature evidence for the causal relationship between ER and EWP,as well as theoretical support and policy recommendations for promoting the sharing of environmental welfare among residents in the new development paradigm and achieving modernization with harmony between humanity and nature.