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The impact of improved export quality on urban green total factor productivity

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Abstract

Rapid urbanisation has intensified the challenge for cities to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study examines how higher export quality influences urban green total factor productivity (GTFP), using panel data from 120 Chinese cities (2011–2021). Employing a slack-based measure (SBM) model and two-way fixed effects estimations with robustness checks, the results show that a 1% increase in export quality is associated with an approximate 0.03% improvement in GTFP. The effect is linear and robust across alternative specifications. Further analyses reveal that the positive impact of export quality is contingent on complementary factors: green innovation and industrial upgrading provide steady reinforcement, while digital innovation exerts the strongest amplifying effect, and market openness facilitates international spillovers. Heterogeneity tests indicate that large and coastal cities benefit more strongly than inland or smaller cities. These findings contribute to the trade–environment literature by identifying export quality as a distinct driver of urban green productivity. Policy implications highlight the need to prioritise digital innovation, support green R&D, and deepen trade liberalisation to ensure that export upgrading translates into sustainable urban growth.

Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was supported by the Harbin Finance University Undergraduate Basic Research Fund for Provincial Universities: Research on the High-Quality Development of Port Economy in Heilongjiang Province from the Perspective of the ‘Northward Opening Strategy’ (Project No.: 2024-KYYWF-005) and the 2025 Harbin Finance University Institutional Research Project: Research on the Driving Mechanisms and Advancement Pathways for Heilongjiang Province to Establish a New Northern Gateway through Digital Economy Development (E012025016).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Finance and Trade, Harbin Finance University, Harbin, China

    Li Tian

  2. Putra Business School, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

    Risidaxshinni Kumarusamy

Authors

  1. Li Tian
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  2. Risidaxshinni Kumarusamy
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Contributions

L.T. conceived the study, designed the research framework, and wrote the main manuscript text. R.K. contributed to the literature review, data analysis, and interpretation of results. L.T. and R.K. jointly developed the methodology and performed the statistical analyses. L.T. and R.K. also collaborated on the drafting and revisions of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to
Li Tian.

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Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information 1 (download DOCX )

Appendix A

Appendix A

See in Table 7.

Table 7 Balance test between the baseline 120-city sample and the remaining cities
Full size table

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Tian, L., Kumarusamy, R. The impact of improved export quality on urban green total factor productivity.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43733-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43733-z

Keywords

  • Green technological innovation
  • Improved export quality
  • Moderating effect
  • Urban green total factor productivity

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