| Author: | Hu, Qidan |
| Title: | Promotional policies and behaviours of green buildings under China’s multi-level governance |
| Advisors: | Shen, Qiping Geoffrey (BRE) |
| Degree: | Ph.D. |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Department: | Department of Building and Real Estate |
| Pages: | xvi, 323 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Green building (GB) promotion is essential for the sustainable transformation of the construction industry, aiming to conserve energy, reduce emissions, improve residents’ welfare, save resources, and protect the environment. In China, while significant government emphasis and policy support have driven progress, information asymmetry and conflicts of interest across different levels of government in the multi-level governance (MLG) system impede GB promotion. Despite advances, the proportion of GBs in total building area remains low, falling short of the “14th Five-Year Plan” targets. Effective green building policies (GBPs) are therefore crucial. This study investigates GBPs within China’s MLG system, focusing on four objectives: (1) to examine the current state of GBPs and identify the key characteristics and challenges of GBP system in China; (2) to develop a tripartite evolutionary game model and investigate the dynamic behaviours of stakeholders and potential pathways; (3) to establish a dual principal-agent model for designing the optimal policy incentive mechanisms; and (4) to empirically verify the proposed models and propose policy implications. First, to clarify the typical characteristics and existing shortcomings of the GBP system, this study reviewed and analysed the historical evolution of GBPs through a mixed-content analysis, highlighting three key stages of policy development, identifying the top-down nature of the policy approach, the combination of “carrot-and-stick” incentive mechanisms, and challenges related to interest conflicts, non-cooperative games, regional inequalities, and inadequate incentive mechanisms. Second, based on the characteristics of GBP system, a tripartite evolutionary game model was developed to analyse the behavioural interactions of central and local governments and developers under information asymmetry. To effectively promote GBs, the central government must exercise its leadership and regulatory role, while policy incentives at both levels should be tailored to specific contexts to form the ideal pathway. Third, to design optimal policy incentives under information asymmetry, a dual principal-agent model was constructed to encourage green actions and uncover hidden factors that hinder GB promotion. Fourth, these models were empirically validated through survey data. Finally, policy recommendations were proposed to support large-scale, high-quality GB development primed by theoretical and empirical insights. This study provides significant theoretical and practical contributions to understanding GB promotion within China's MLG system. Theoretically, it offers a comprehensive analysis of GBP evolution, enriching the literature with a nuanced framework for understanding policy dynamics, including intensity, structural shifts, and regional disparities. By addressing the roles and strategies of central and local governments, it fills a critical gap in the study of MLG dynamics in sustainable development. Additionally, the study introduces innovative models, such as the tripartite evolutionary game and dual principal-agent models, to analyse stakeholder interactions and incentive mechanisms, providing a context-sensitive approach to aligning interests in MLG systems. Empirical validation bridges theoretical constructs with real-world practices, enhancing robustness and applicability. Practically, the study offers actionable recommendations to refine policy coherence, foster stakeholder collaboration, and support the widespread adoption of sustainable building practices. These empirically tested strategies guide policymakers in designing adaptive, region-specific incentives for optimising GBPs within China's MLG framework. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | open access |
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