The regional difference and factor source of China’s ecological total factor productivity growth from the concept of strong sustainability

Advancing ecological civilization and transitioning to high-quality development require optimizing resource allocation and enhancing total factor productivity (TFP). However, existing frameworks often overlook strong sustainability principles, such as clean energy transition and non-decreasing environmental welfare, which necessitates a holistic approach to analyzing China's ecological TFP (ETFP). This study introduces a novel framework integrating these principles, employing the modified epsilon input-oriented directional distance function and the Luenberger productivity indicator to construct the Ecological Luenberger Productivity (ELP) index. A dynamic double decomposition method further dissects the "factor performance—overall performance—factor source" paradigm. Key findings reveal: (1) Sub-factor productivity growth follows a consistent sequence: environmental construction—labor—non-clean energy—capital—clean energy, with persistent structural imbalances; (2) ETFP demonstrates "U"-shaped fluctuation patterns, driven by technological progress and spatial divergence, where the East and West prioritize environmental construction while the Central region relies on labor; (3) Factor contributions decline sequentially from environmental construction to clean energy, with convergence trends predominantly influenced by environmental construction and non-clean energy. The results underscore unachieved equilibrium in factor allocation and widening regional gaps. This study redefines ETFP analysis within strong sustainability frameworks, offering actionable insights for China's green transition.