How new-type urbanization pilots reduce carbon emissions: A technology progress paths perspective

As an important attempt to promote intensive development, new-type urbanization (NU) pilot programs have received increasing attention. However, most related literature does not clarify the relationships between the NU pilot, paths of technological progress, and carbon emissions. Thus, we constructed a difference-in-differences model to compare the differences in carbon emissions between NU-pilot and non-NU areas before and after implementing the pilot, with significant results. The NU pilot policies primarily affected carbon emissions through domestic R&D activities and intercity and FDI technology spillover. A sub-sample analysis considering city heterogeneity confirmed that the NU pilot had heterogeneous impacts on cities with different locations, administrative levels, population sizes, and sea front conditions. The pilot policies' technological action paths varied with changes in urban characteristics. The results imply that policymakers should tailor policies to pilot policy action paths and cities' local conditions.