Li Lei, Ma Xiaoyu, Zheng Yifan, Ma Shaojun, Zuo Jian, Goodsite Michael
College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
School of International Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22751. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-08883-6.
Urban green innovation (UGI) is seen as a powerful mechanism to address issues of global warming and environmental sustainability. In China, the experimental nature of UGI is evident, and it relies on intergovernmental relations such as central government leadership and policy transfer from local governments. However, studies on urban green innovation efficiency (UGIE) from the perspective of intergovernmental relationships remains insufficient. This paper uses the Super-EBM and DDF-SBM models to measure UGIE. Based on fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), necessary condition analysis (NCA) and robustness testing, it explores the complex relationships path of intergovernmental relationships on promoting the UGIE. The results of this paper show that intergovernmental relations, digital economy, urban business environment and industrial transfer are not necessary conditions for UGIE. Four configuration paths are derived from the complex configuration perspective: vertical intervention in the digital economy green transformation mode, vertical intervention to promote green efficiency improvement mode, local government business environment and digital economy synergy driving mode, and horizontal cooperation to promote green total factor efficiency conversion mode. This paper explores the "achievement of the same goal" allocation relationship between central government intervention and local government coordination on the UGIE, and the findings are novel for the studies of intergovernmental relations that are intertwined horizontally and vertically.
城市绿色创新（UGI）被视为解决全球变暖和环境可持续性问题的有力机制。在中国，UGI的试验性质明显，它依赖于诸如中央政府领导和地方政府政策转移等政府间关系。然而，从政府间关系视角对城市绿色创新效率（UGIE）的研究仍显不足。本文运用超效率EBM模型和DDF-SBM模型来测度UGIE。基于模糊集定性比较分析（fsQCA）、必要条件分析（NCA）和稳健性检验，探究政府间关系对促进UGIE的复杂关系路径。本文结果表明，政府间关系、数字经济、城市营商环境和产业转移并非UGIE的必要条件。从复杂组态视角导出四条组态路径：数字经济绿色转型模式的垂直干预、促进绿色效率提升模式的垂直干预、地方政府营商环境与数字经济协同驱动模式、促进绿色全要素效率转换模式的横向合作。本文探究了中央政府干预与地方政府协调在UGIE上的“殊途同归”配置关系，这一研究发现对于纵横交织的政府间关系研究而言具有新颖性。
