Abstract:

Objective: This study aims to explore the non-linear impact of forestry element input and production efficiency on forestry economic growth, especially the decisive role played by labor remuneration. Method: In this study, 40 forestry bureaus in Heilongjiang state-owned forest regions were targeted. The panel threshold regression model with labor remuneration as the threshold variable was used to analyze the stage characteristics of the impact of forestry capital input, forestry labor input, forestry land input, and forestry production efficiency on forestry economic growth. Furthermore, the mediating effect model and the moderating effect model were used to explore the unique role of labor remuneration in the process of forestry economic growth. Result: 1) The test results of F statistics of the double threshold effect were significant at the level of 1%, and each of the threshold regression model had a better fitting effect than the ordinary panel regression model. Furthermore, the threshold coefficient of each variable had an upward trend. 2) The test results of the total effect and the mediating effect were both significant at the level of 1%, and the test results of the direct effect were that the coefficients of forestry capital input and production efficiency were significant at the level of 1%, and the coefficient of forest land input was significant at the level of 5%, while the coefficient of forestry labor input was not significant. 3) The test results of moderating effect were that the coefficients of the interaction terms of forestry capital input and labor remuneration, labor input and labor remuneration were significant at the level of 1%, and the coefficients of the interaction terms of forestry land input and labor remuneration, forestry production efficiency and labor remuneration were not significant. The analysis results showed that each impact of forestry capital input, forestry labor input, forest land input, and forestry production efficiency on forestry economic growth had a double threshold effect with labor remuneration changing, and with the continuous increasing of labor remuneration, the marginal contribution of forestry factor input and production efficiency to forestry economic growth continues to rise. The labor remuneration had a partial mediating effect in the impact of forestry capital input, forest land input and forestry production efficiency on forestry economic growth, while there was a complete mediating effect in the impact of forestry labor input on forestry economic growth. Approximately 69.88% of the impact of various factors on forestry economic growth was achieved through labor remuneration. The labor remuneration had a positively strengthened moderating effect in the impact of forestry capital input on forestry economic growth, and a negatively strengthened moderating effect in the impact of forestry labor input on forestry economic growth, while there were no significant moderating effects in the impact of forest land input and forestry production efficiency. Conclusion: Generally speaking, the influence of forestry factor input and production efficiency on forestry economic growth is non-linear, and the labor remuneration exerts a significant threshold, mediating and moderating effects. There is an inherent consistency and deep causal relationship between the increase in labor remuneration and forestry economic growth.

Key words: factor input, production efficiency, forestry economic growth, labor remuneration, threshold effect