The Spatial Impact of Innovative Human Capital on Green Total Factor Productivity in Chinese Regions Based on Quantity and Quality Dimensions

Green total factor productivity (GTFP) is a key driver of China’s green development, and innovative human capital (IHC) plays a pivotal role in enhancing GTFP. This study examines the impact of the quantity and quality dimensions of IHC on regional GTFP in China. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2004 to 2018, this study constructs a spatial Durbin model (SDM) to empirically analyze the role of IHC in regional GTFP. Three main conclusions are obtained: (1) both the quantity and quality of IHC can significantly and directly improve regional GTFP, yet regional heterogeneity exists. In the eastern region, both IHCA and IHCQ have a significant impact, while in the middle-western region, only IHCA has a significant effect on GTFP; (2) IHC can boost the enhancement of regional GTFP through technological progress; and (3) the quantity of IHC (IHCA) produces a spatial spillover effect on regional GTFP, whereas the quality of IHC (IHCQ) does not exhibit this effect. Based on these conclusions, strategies for the green development of China and the coordinated development of the eastern and middle-western regions are proposed. The Chinese government should integrate IHC development into its environmental policies to improve environmental awareness and optimize the efficiency of human capital, taking regional differences into account.