Research on the Improvement Path of Regional Green Technology Innovation Efficiency in China Based on fsQCA Method

Improvements in green technology innovation efficiency is the core factor to promote to shape new advantages in resource-saving and environmental friendliness under the new pattern of double-cycle development. It is also the main driving force needed to establish a high-quality development model of an efficient and sustainable economy. Taking 30 provinces of China as case samples, this paper establishes the appraisal system of green technology innovation efficiency. The first step is using the three-stage DEA model to measure green technology innovation efficiency. Then, according to the configuration perspective, the paper uses fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore multiple paths for promoting green technology innovation efficiency. The findings are as follows: (1) A single factor of environmental support or technology supply cannot effectively stimulate the improvement of green technology innovation efficiency. Therefore, the impacting factors must be matched to jointly improve green technology innovation efficiency. (2) There are three configuration paths for high green technology innovation efficiency. Namely, they are the driven by economic environment and environmental regulation type; the driven by industrial structure and supply of finance type; and the driven by industrial structure, supply of finance, and supply of manpower type. (3) The paths to generate non-high green technology innovation efficiency can be summarized as one. The shortage of human resources and a poor economic environment are the main reasons for the inhibition of improvements in green technology innovation efficiency; additionally, the configuration of high and non-high green technology innovation efficiency is asymmetrical. On the one hand, our results are helpful for the study of the efficiency of regional green technology innovation at the provincial level. On the other hand, the results also provide practical solutions and a theoretical basis for provinces to promote regional green technology innovation efficiency under the new economic normal.