Huaping Sun

Bio: Huaping Sun is an academic researcher from Jiangsu University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Business & Greenhouse gas. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 75 publications receiving 1252 citations. Previous affiliations of Huaping Sun include Shanghai Jiao Tong University & Research Institute of Industrial Economics.

Institutional quality, green innovation and energy efficiency

Abstract: This paper examines the energy efficiency performance of a sample of 71 developed and developing countries between 1990 and 2014. In most current energy literature, the transition to green technology is seen as a sustainable way to achieve a low-carbon or carbon-free environment. Bearing this in mind, we argue further that adopting green technology needs a strong backing and funding of reliable government institutions to shift the country's paradigm. Considering this issue, we adopt the parametric stochastic frontier approach built on the shepherd distance function to evaluate the effects of both governmental institutions and green technologies on energy efficiency. We find evidence of a significant positive influence of both green innovation and institutional quality on energy efficiency enhancement having controlled for some variables. Regarding energy efficiency levels of the individual countries- USA, Japan, Germany and Australia lead the chart while Belize, Panama, Singapore, Malta, Sierra Leone, Iceland, Jamaica, Bahrain and Ghana are the least energy efficient countries. Policy implications are further discussed.

Energy efficiency: The role of technological innovation and knowledge spillover

Abstract: It is widely accepted that technological innovation reduces energy intensity and carbon emissions without compromising global economic growth. Although new innovative developments tend to be concentrated in a few developed countries, transboundary spillover of technological innovation influences the energy efficiency and sectoral performance of other countries. A more thorough assessment of international knowledge spillover related to energy intensity reduction can enhance understanding of mitigation opportunities and costs. This study investigated, therefore, the effects of technological innovation within certain countries on the energy efficiency performance of neighboring countries. We used data from the OECD Triadic Patent Families database for 24 innovating countries between the years 1994 and 2013. Accounting for geographical distance, our results showed a positive, significant relationship between knowledge spillover and country-specific energy efficiency performance. All countries showed a sustainable efficiency growth trend, which indicates a steady increase in energy efficiency. Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are the most energy efficient countries. These results have policy implications for sustainable energy management and environmental sustainability, highlighting the need to develop domestic research and development capabilities that increase innovation-based infrastructure.

Digital finance, green technological innovation and energy-environmental performance: Evidence from China's regional economies

Abstract: Conventional finance has many deficiencies in promoting green technology innovation (GTI) and energy-environmental performance (EEP). The emerging digital finance is filling the gaps left by conventional finance with the support of information technology. Using panel data from 2011 to 2017, the paper explores the impact of digital finance on energy-environmental performance in China. The results show that digital finance significantly improves China's energy-environmental performance, which remains robust after a series of tests. Green technology innovation is the transmission path through which digital finance affects energy-environmental performance. The impact mechanism test proves that digital finance affects pure technical efficiency rather than scale efficiency. Furthermore, we also find that digital finance has a greater stimulus effect on energy-environmental performance where credit and capital markets are more immature. Financial supervision and environmental regulation from the Chinese government can reinforce the role of digital finance in promoting energy-environmental performance. Our study suggests that China should accelerate digitization in the financial markets, particularly in pursuit of its energy-saving and emission-reduction effects.

Developing low carbon economies: An aggregated composite index based on carbon emissions

Abstract: Energy indices provide a clear summary to measure the energy performance of the country which is a prerequisite for policy making. Increasing rate of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions are causing dangerous climate changes which seem irreversible. Therefore, it is vital to rank countries with the highest GHGs and carbon emissions in order to develop low carbon economies. This requires a comprehensive statistical analysis. In this study, we develop an aggregated composite index (ACI) of energy security and environmental sustainability for each of the world’s highest GHGs and CO2 emitting countries. Our index is based on a comprehensive set of indicators including carbon emission and energy metrics. Composite indicator has been used to combine all the indicators in a holistic way. Higher values show a better efficiency and vice versa. The analysis reveals that there are considerable differences in performances of top and low ranked countries, Canada and Brazil respectively. We ranked the countries based on their efficiency score from top-down. Analysis also provides a roadmap and guidelines for the future policymakers.

Green finance, fintech and environmental protection: Evidence from China

Abstract: This paper is one of the first to offer a comprehensive analysis of the impact of green finance related policies in China, utilizing text analysis and panel data from 290 cities between 2011 and 2018. Employing the Semi-parametric Difference-in-Differences (SDID) we show that overall China's green finance related policies have led to a significant reduction in industrial gas emissions in the review period. Additionally, we found that Fintech development contributes to the depletion of sulphur dioxide emissions and has a positive impact on environmental protection investment initiatives. China is poised to be a global leader in green finance policy implementation and regulators need to accelerate the formulation of green finance products and enhance the capacity of financial institutions to offer green credit. While minimizing the systemic risk fintech poses, policy makers should encourage fintechs to actively participate in environmental protection initiatives that promote green consumption.

Economic growth and income inequality

Abstract: We investigate whether income inequality affects subsequent growth in a cross-country sample for 1965-90, using the models of Barro (1997), Bleaney and Nishiyama (2002) and Sachs and Warner (1997), with negative results. We then investigate the evolution of income inequality over the same period and its correlation with growth. The dominating feature is inequality convergence across countries. This convergence has been significantly faster amongst developed countries. Growth does not appear to influence the evolution of inequality over time. Outline