Abstract:Continuous optimization of the allocation of innovation factors is crucial for achieving carbon reduction goals and promoting high-quality economic development. From a theoretical perspective, this paper analyzes the impact mechanism and spatial spillover effects of innovation factor misallocation on carbon emission efficiency. It constructs a measurement framework for innovation factor misallocation and carbon emission efficiency, and uses provincial panel data from China for the period 2012-2021 to empirically test the impact of innovation factor misallocation on carbon emission efficiency and its spatial spillover effects. The results show that innovation factor misallocation significantly inhibits the improvement of carbon emission efficiency in the region and adversely affects the carbon emission efficiency of spatially related regions, with the conclusions being robust through dual robustness tests. The impact of innovation factor misallocation on carbon emission efficiency exhibits regional heterogeneity: it has a suppressive effect on carbon emission efficiency in central and southwestern regions, while the impact is not significant in eastern, northeastern, and northwestern regions. Misallocation of innovation factors in all five major regions suppresses the carbon emission efficiency of spatially related regions. Therefore, policy recommendations are proposed to continuously optimize the market allocation mechanism of innovation factors, effectively encourage the innovation and application of low-carbon technologies by enterprises, and form a regional innovation synergy to enhance carbon emission efficiency.