金融深化对绿色发展的门槛效应分析

在绿色发展的过程中,金融作为现代经济体系中必不可少的一环正扮演着越来越重要的角色。从一般的理论认知和实践而言,可从金融的深化和广化两个角度来看待金融发展。相对金融广化而言,金融深化更能体现金融对于资本的配置功能和金融体系不断完善的过程,它通过引导投资边际收益率促进绿色发展的效率,进而影响整个绿色经济系统的全要素生产率。本文通过构建一个经济内生增长模型来检验金融深化对绿色发展的影响效应,以2003—2014年中国280个地级单元的面板数据为样本,采用面板门槛模型分析其内在作用的非对称性。结果表明:(1)模型推导发现,金融深化作用在不同生产部门所占份额的配置未达到最优时,金融深化对绿色发展存在门槛效应,即金融深化对绿色发展作用存在可能的非对称性;否则,二者以近似对数函数的关系相互作用。(2)实证发现,金融深化对绿色发展在中国地级层面存在一重门槛效应,似然比检验结果表明该门槛效应在1%的临界值下显著,并且其门槛值大小为0.635 5,门限回归结果显示金融深化对绿色发展在门限值前后的偏效应系数分别为-0.056 8和0.129 9,说明中国金融深化与绿色发展的关系呈现库兹涅茨曲线的倒U形形状。(3)稳健性检验发现,控制变量对金融深化导致的绿色发展门槛效应的扰动仅体现在P值的变化范围之内且变化幅度较小,门限值的大小及置信区间不会发生明显变化,反映中国金融深化与绿色发展的关系结构依然稳健。显然,应当大力推进金融深化过程,突破"门槛效应"的制约,充分发挥金融深化对资本的配置效应,从而推动中国绿色发展进程。     

开放经济、环保财政支出与污染治理——来自中国省级与行业面板数据的经验证据

首先按照各省环保财政支出占GDP比重与按主成分分析法计算的地方环境污染物排放综合指数的排名情况把中国30个省份分成两个区域,区域1环保财政支出污染治理效应较强,区域2环保财政支出污染治理效应较弱。区域1包括北京、海南等14个省市,区域2包括天津、上海等16个省市。其次基于2007—2014年中国省级和行业面板数据,分析开放经济、环保财政支出对污染治理的影响。最后借鉴门限回归模型检验开放经济是否存在环保财政支出与污染治理的门槛效应。结果显示:(1)环境污染物排放存在区域差异和行业差异,区域1呈现出开放程度和污染物排放双低的特征,而区域2则表现为双高特征。制造业、电力、煤气及水的生产和供应业污染物排放较高,采掘业污染物排放年均增长速度最快。(2)样本期内省级和行业面板数据均表明开放经济与环境污染物排放显著负相关,对外开放不是助推环境污染的原因。(3)中国环保财政支出与环境污染物排放显著负相关,环保财政支出具有显著的污染治理效应。(4)开放经济对环保财政支出的污染治理效应具有门槛效应,当进口和出口贸易总额高于门槛值-1.221、-1.016时环保财政支出的污染治理效应很难发挥。(5)以进、出口贸易总额为门槛变量时,有107个观测值低于门槛值,占总观测值的44.58%,其中有59个位于区域1,占55.14%。鉴于此应继续加大环境保护财政支出,进一步提升环保财政专项支出在GDP中所占比重,保持适度的对外开放,优化能源消费结构和实现产业结构升级,全面改善环境质量,提升开放经济下环保财政支出的污染治理效应。     

城镇化对工业能源消费的门槛效应研究——以长江经济带省份为例

高效能源利用是推动工业发展,进而促使城镇格局演化的重要催化剂,同时城镇化的高速发展对工业能源的消费结构和利用效率提出了进一步的要求,这必将影响到低碳城市建设和环境保护等生态责任目标的实现。选取2003—2012年长江经济带11个省份(直辖市)的相关数据,运用门槛模型对城镇化率、城镇居民人均总收入、能源工业投资、工业总产值、城市人口密度、产业结构等影响工业能源消费的因素进行分析,重点研究城镇化率和工业能源消费的非线性关系和相应的地区差异。结果表明:(1)长江经济带城镇化发展存在着明显的地区差异,上海、浙江等东部地区城镇化发展速度和水平明显优于云南、贵州等中西部地区。云南和贵州2012年的城镇化率远远低于2003年上海、浙江的城镇化率,显示出长江上游和下游之间存在着巨大的发展水平差距。(2)城镇化对工业能源消费存在显著的门槛效应,以城镇化率为门槛变量,存在两个结构变化点,分别为36.9%和48.3%。(3)在第一个门槛点前,城镇化对工业能源消费起抑制作用,前期城镇化的发展导致资源和人口的集聚效应明显,资源的利用效率和配置效率得到提升,从而抑制工业能源消费。在越过第二个门槛点后,城镇化对工业能源消费起正向作用,此时工业的发展和生活消费水准的提升对能源消费提出了更多的要求。最后为促进长江经济带城镇化和工业低碳化的协调发展,提出以下建议:加快长江经济带沿线各省份联动发展,缩小城镇化发展差异;针对城镇化率和工业能源消费的非线性关系,采取相应的措施引导和控制工业能源消费的变化趋势;协调城镇化进程和地区工业能源消耗,促进城镇化的健康发展。     

中国FDI环境效应的再检验

改革开放以来,外商直接投资(FDI)的涌入为中国经济发展注入了新活力,并成为中国经济高速增长的重要引擎之一。然而,随着康菲石油渤海漏油事故、江苏启东王子造纸排污和阿玛尼污染投诉等涉外污染事件报道频出,学术界对于FDI涌入可能带来的负面环境效应表现出一定担忧。现有文献多聚焦于整体层面的FDI环境效应检验,而对其区域差异及原因产生机制的系统探究并不多见。为此,本文从理论判断和命题推演出发,利用2003—2014年中国省际面板数据,以改进熵值法拟合环境污染综合指数,并构建普通面板模型,实证检验了FDI流入对中国环境污染的影响及其区域差异。结果表明,总体而言,"污染光环"假说在中国基本成立,即FDI流入在一定程度上改善了中国环境质量,但不同地区FDI的环境效应有所不同,其主要表现为沿海和内陆地区FDI具有显著的"污染光环"效应,且前者强于后者,而沿边地区FDI具有不明显的"污染天堂"效应。在此基础上,构造面板门槛模型,进一步系统考察了FDI对中国环境污染影响的4种主要吸收能力因素的门槛效应。门槛回归结果表明,FDI对中国环境污染的影响显著存在基于经济发展、环境规制、人力资本和金融发展水平的双门槛效应。经济发展、人力资本和金融发展水平越高,FDI的"污染光环"效应越明显,而适度的环境规制才更有利于FDI环境技术溢出的发挥。基于此,本文建议应进一步全方位地提高对外开放水平,一如既往地积极引进并监督FDI;同时地方政府也需认清地区发展的不平衡性,进而采取差异化的引资政策。     

Odor Control for Land Application of Lime Stabilized Biosolids

Over three million dry metric tons of biosolids produced in the United States are land applied as Class B. Lime stabilization is employed for biosolids treatment at approximately 20% of the wastewater treatment plants because it is a simple and inexpensive process. During lime stabilization, the pH of sewage sludge is raised above 12 for pathogen inactivation and odor reduction. Lime dose and mixing have been found to greatly reduce odor generation from lime stabilized biosolids. A better quality biosolids product is less likely to create public opposition to land application programs. In this study, land application tests using Class B biosolids were conducted in order to determine whether better mixing can reduce odor generation during the land application of lime stabilized biosolids. The mixing quality of a treatment plant’s lime stabilized biosolids was improved by relocating the lime addition point, which prolonged the mixing time and produced a better mixed biosolids product. Based on field observations of land application, the poorly mixed biosolids were more odorous and offensive prior to incorporation. However, once incorporated into the soil, there was no appreciable odor difference between the biosolids. Another land application study was conducted to assess the odor of unincorporated Class A biosolids and compare it with incorporated Class A biosolids with the soil.     

An evaluation of selenium concentrations in water, sediment, invertebrates, and fish from the Solomon River Basin

The Solomon River Basin is located in north-central Kansas in an area underlain by marine geologic shales. Selenium is an indigenous constituent of these shales and is readily leached into the surrounding groundwater. Portions of the Basin are irrigated primarily through the pumping of selenium-contaminated groundwater from wells onto fields in agricultural production. Water, sediment, macroinvertebrates, and fish were collected from various sites in the Basin in 1998 and analyzed for selenium. Selenium concentrations were analyzed spatially and temporally and compared to reported selenium toxic effect thresholds for specific ecosystem components: water, sediments, food-chain organisms, and wholebody fish. A selenium aquatic hazard assessment for the Basin was determined based on protocol established by Lemly. Throughout the Basin, water, macroinvertebrate, and whole fish samples exceeded levels suspected of causing reproductive impairment in fish. Population structures of several fish species implied that successful reproduction was occurring; however, the influence of immigration of fish from low-selenium habitats could not be discounted. Site-specific fish reproduction studies are needed to determine the true impact of selenium on fishery resources in the Basin. The U.S. Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

LOW DISCHARGE PERIODS OF RIVERS IN THE UPPER VISTULA RIVER BASIN,POLAND1

ABSTRACT: A method is presented for determining low discharge periods of rivers based on threshold values defined in terms of MEAN OF MINIMUM SUMMER (WINTER) DISCHARGES. The method is used to determine summer low flow periods in the Vistula River basin in Poland. Analysis is based on daily discharge data for 84 basins of the Upper Vistula River which was collected by the Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Economy.     

SOME GEOMORPHIC RELATIONSHIPS AND HYDROGRAPH ANALYSIS1

ABSTRACT: First order drainage channels originate when the tractive force exerted by flowing water is sufficient to move surface sediment. The amount of runoff available to move sediment is a function of geologic and climatic characteristics. An experimental analysis showed that soils derived from fine grained rocks had lower infiltration rates and higher runoff volume than soils derived from coarser grained rocks in a semi-arid climate. Root density and penetration increased in a more humid climate and increased infiltration rates. The number of first order channels was inversely proportional to the infiltration capacity of the soil. Each first order channel acts as a source area for surface runoff. The distribution of first order channel distances from the gage determines the timing of the delivery of water to the gage. A comparison of the frequency histogram of first order channel distances for drainage basins in Pennsylvania and their hydxographs of runoff from general storms showed marked similarity. This close correspondence indicated the shape of the surface runoff hydrograph and was largely controlled by the distribution of first order channel distances.     

General prevention and risk minimization in LCA A combined approach

Methods for life cycle assessment of products (LCA) are most often based on the general prevention principle, as opposed to the risk minimization principle. Here, the desirability and feasibility of a combined approach are discussed, along with the conditions for elaboration in the framework of LCA methodology, and the consequences for LCA practice. A combined approach provides a separate assessment of above and below threshold pollution, offering the possibility to combat above threshold impacts with priority. Spatial differentiation in fate, exposure, and effect modelling is identified to play a central role in the implementation. The collection of region-specific data turns out to be the most elaborate requirement for the implementation in both methodology and practice. A methodological framework for the construction of characterization factors is provided. Along with spatial differentiation of existing parameters, two newly introduced spatial parameters play a key role: the sensitivity factor and the threshold factor. The practicability of the proposed procedure is illustrated by an example of its application. Providing a reasonable data availability, the development of separate LCA characterization factors for the respective assessment of pollution levels above and below environmental threshold values seems to be a feasible task that may add to LCA credibility.     

浅析国内外重大危险源辨识中危险物质临界量的差异

通过分析国内外重大危险源辨识标准中危险物质临界量的差异,以汽油和液化石油气为例,分别选择池火灾和沸腾液体扩展蒸气云爆炸模型计算事故后果,并结合我国企业的安全管理状况,说明了修改我国《重大危险源辨识》中危险物质临界量的必要性。