The Impact of Multi-agent Cooperative Game Model on Inter-regional Clean Technology Diffusion

Abstract

Since the advent of economic globalization, the pursuit of economic development has had a detrimental effect on the environment, resulting in serious pollution and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Clean technology can reduce GHG emissions and mitigate environmental damage. However, their uneven development and technological barriers between advanced and unadvanced regions hinder widespread adoption. This research develops a multi-agent cooperative game model (including central government, advanced region, and unadvanced region) to investigate strategic decision-making in cross-regional clean technology diffusion. The model uses numerical simulation to evaluate how technology transfer costs, environmental benefits, and economic returns influence stakeholder behavior strategies. The simulation’s outcomes indicate the following: 1) Cooperative clean technology diffusion between advanced and unadvanced regions is feasible when both parties achieve greater economic and environmental benefits or face significant penalties for failing to adopt clean technology. 2) Insufficient participation by advanced and unadvanced regions often prompts the central government to adopt stricter regulatory measures. 3) Factors such as increased central government incentives, higher subsidies for clean technology in advanced regions, and rising costs of alternative technology in unadvanced regions significantly enhance interregional technology diffusion. The conclusions of this research provide policy recommendations and management implications for policymakers.

Keywords

Multi-agent / inter-regional clean technology diffusion / cooperative game model / numerical simulation

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