The Consequence Of National Key Ecological Function Zones Policy

The establishment of National Key Ecological Function Zones(NKEFZs)is a strategic area that aims to protect national ecological security.Through central transfer payments to encourage local governments to carry out environmental protection.As of 2019,the central government had issued a total of 524.2 billion yuan in transfer payment funds for NKEFZs.However,the effectiveness of the implementation of such a large-scale ecological transfer payment project has yet to be fully and effectively assessed.This article studies the impact of NKEFZ policy on regional development from three perspectives: the environment,the economy and people’s livelihood.The research conclusions of this paper are as follows.First,the research conclusions on the impact of NKEFZs on industrial pollution are presented.The theoretical model finds that central transfer payment funds are beneficial to local governments in terms of environmental protection.However,because different regions have different ecological resource endowments,there are differences in the costs and benefits of providing ecological products among regions.Under the same incentive rules,for regional environments with poor ecological resource endowments,the intensity of regulation is lower than that of regions with good ecological resource endowments.In addition,because of information asymmetry,local governments may ignor the indicators that have not yet been assessed by higher-level governments.The empirical analysis finds that the establishment of NKEFZs in the Yangtze River Ecological Economic Zone effectively reduce pollution industries activities,especially air pollution,and prevent the degradation of the ecological environment of the Yangtze River Economic Zone.However,there the following problems arise.First,the continuous effects of NKEFZs policy need to be improved.Second,the effect of environmental regulations in NKEFZs in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River is not satisfactory.the increased financial pressure faced by governments,which is at the same level in all NKEFZs in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River,may affect the enthusiasm of local governments in terms of environmental protection.Third,the treatment of water pollution,which is particularly important for the Yangtze River Basin,is not all-encompassing,while ignoring the treatment of non-target pollutants.Fourth,NKEFZs policy have not produced positive environmental spillover effects.Second,the research conclusions about the impact of NKEFZs on total factor productivity are presented.Mechanism analysis finds that NKEFZs policy act on the local total factor productivity through the environmental cost effect,Porter effect and industrial structure effect.Moreover,the empirical analysis finds that the establishment of NKEFZs in the Yangtze River Eco-economic Belt,has effectively improved local total factor productivity,especially the zones in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and air pollution industry.The promotion of total factor productivity is obvious,and the establishment of NKEFZs has had initial effects on the positive impact of total factor productivity.However,the following problems exist.First,the sustainable effects of these policy need to be improved.Second,the environmental cost effect of the NKEFZs system is obvious.Third,the policy mainly promote the improvement of the innovation but have no effect on highquality innovation.Fourth,the total factor productivity of NKEFZs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River has not increased significantly.Fifth,NKEFZ policy have not promoted the improvement of the total factor productivity of the air pollution industry.Third,the research conclusions about the poverty reduction effect of NKEFZs are presented.Mechanism analysis finds that NKEFZs policy affect farmers’ income through two channels: environmental regulation and ecological compensation.Empirical analysis finds that the establishment of NKEFZs in the Yangtze River Eco-Economic Belt has effectively increased the income of local farmers.Farmers’ income in zones in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River has been improved.However,the following problems exist.First,NKEFZs policy have not had a positive impact on the agricultural product processing industry.Second,NKEFZs policy do not promote local public services and cannot provide infrastructure guarantees for farmers to reduce poverty.Third,NKEFZs policy have no impact on an increase in farmers’ income in zones in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in areas with large industrial scales.The suggestions of this article are as follows.First,the environmental governance cost and development opportunity cost of the public environmental products provided by local governments should be accurately measured according to local conditions,and the financial incentive mechanism should be improved;the assessment indicators should be further improved,and the local ecological environment should be comprehensively investigated as much as possible.In terms of quality,regional joint prevention and control should be promoted to ensure the protection of ecological safety barriers.Second,the industrial structure upgrading effect and R&D innovation effect of NKEFZs policy and the highquality economic development of NKEFZs should be promoted.Third,green poverty alleviation has become an effective way to practice the "two mountains theory" and promote the value transformation of natural resources.To exert the poverty reduction effect of this policy,efforts should be made to promote the development of the agriproducts processing industry,promote the ecologicalization of agriculture,and provide a higher level of public services.