Technological innovation, resource endowment, and green total factor energy efficiency

Technological advancements and resources availability are the main components of green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE). This study measured GTFEE using the Meta-frontier and Non-radial Directional Distance Function (MNDDF) models and empirically evaluated the effect of technological innovation and resource endowment on GTFEE using dynamic panel and panel threshold models. The following are the primary findings: (1) Throughout the study sample period, the average change trend of China's GTFEE was generally in the shape of a "W," with regional variations. (2) Independent innovation can significantly improve GTFEE, whereas technology introduction has little effect on GTFEE advancement. Similarly, it confirmed the existence of the "Resource Curse." (3) While independent innovation has reduced the severity of the resource curse to a certain extent, the introduction of this technology has no positive effect on the resource curse problem. (4) Heterogeneity research indicates that only large cities' independent innovation has significantly increased GTFEE. There is a particular resource curse phenomenon regardless of the city size, but it is more prominent in small and medium-sized cities. (5) At various phases of economic development, a significant difference was noticed in the impact of independent innovation, technology introduction, and resource endowment on GTFEE.