The land finance and eco-product value nexus: Evidence from fiscal decentralization in China

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Aug;30(36):85746-85758. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-28533-6. Epub 2023 Jul 1.

Abstract

This study aimed to shed new light on the land finance and eco-product value nexus from the perspective of fiscal decentralization, using data collected from 276 Chinese prefectures between 2005 and 2020. We employed a two-way fixed effects model to explore land finance, fiscal decentralization, and the eco-product value nexus. Our findings revealed that land finance has a noticeable disincentive influence on eco-product value. The impact of land finance on the ecological value of wetlands is much higher than on that of other land types. Additionally, fiscal expenditure decentralization plays a negative regulatory role between land finance and eco-product value. This effect is further strengthened with an increase in the fiscal decentralization level. Our findings suggest that standardizing local government land-granting behavior and making land finance more ecologically friendly through policy implementation will effectively contribute to the sustainable development of China.

Keywords: Eco-product value; Fiscal decentralization; Land finance; Land-Use and Land-Cover Change; Remote sensing data; Sustainable development.

MeSH terms

  • China
  • Economic Development
  • Health Expenditures
  • Policy
  • Politics*
  • Sustainable Development*