Exploring the development of green total factor productivity in logistics: evidence from beijing-tianjin-hebei region

This study scientifically assesses the level of green growth in logistics in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region under the background of integration, and explores the change in green total factor productivity (GTFP) in logistics. The global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index model was developed to assess the GTFP of logistics in 13 prefecture-level cities in the region between 2010 and 2020. The research examined changes in productivity, decomposition of the index, regional disparities, and convergence. The main findings are as follows: The growth of GTFP remains stable, the cumulative increase of green technology progress is about 10.63%, and the cumulative decline of green technology efficiency is about 23.33%. Green technology progress is the main driving force for the growth of logistics GTFP in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. However, green technology efficiency shows a significant decline. Notably, the development effects and models of GTFP in logistics differed significantly among Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei. Only Hebei achieved an improvement in both efficiency and progress, with the growth rate of progress as high as 25.18%. In particular, Zhangjiakou, Xingtai, Hengshui, and Qinhuangdao achieved dual-driven of technology efficiency and progress during the 13th Five-Year Plan. The GTFP of Beijing's logistics has rebounded and significantly enhanced, but the efficiency remains at a low level in recent years. Conversely, the efficiency and progress index in Tianjin decreased to varying degrees. Grouped urban agglomerations all passed the beta convergence test for GTFP. However, the convergence rate was affected by administrative barriers, resulting in the slowest convergence rate observed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei city group.