The impact of carbon emissions trading on agricultural economic development: Evidence from China's carbon emissions trading pilot policies

This study uses a panel dataset of various provinces and cities in China from 2007 to 2022 to investigate the impact of carbon emissions trading on the agricultural economy, applying a difference-in-differences (DID) model. The findings indicate that carbon emissions trading serves as a driving force for the growth of the agricultural economy, primarily by improving agricultural technical efficiency. Additionally, a threshold effect is observed in the role of green technology innovation in this relationship. A heterogeneity analysis further reveals that carbon emissions trading has a significant positive effect on agricultural economic growth in the eastern region, while its impact is less pronounced in the central and western regions.