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Urban pollution and road infrastructure: A case study of China

Author

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  • Luo, Zhi
  • Wan, Guanghua
  • Wang, Chen
  • Zhang, Xun

Abstract

Urban road infrastructure is crucial in affecting air pollution. Yet, little is known about the roles played by road width vs road length. This paper attempts to fill this gap by estimating the effects of road infrastructure on PM10 using city-level data from China. Our robust modeling results show that the road density index, defined as the ratio of road surface area to city territory size, is negatively correlated with PM10. More importantly, when the road width and length components of the road density variable are separately included in the regression models, the width is found to be significantly and negatively correlated with PM10, whereas the correlation with the length variable is insignificant. This is expected as increases in road width can help mitigate congestion, improve fuel efficiency, and thus reduce emissions. On the contrary, extending roads to new or unconnected areas is likely to bring more vehicles onto the roads and extend average driving time. Our findings appeal for careful consideration of the trade-off between road width (lane numbers) and road length when planning and constructing urban road infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo, Zhi & Wan, Guanghua & Wang, Chen & Zhang, Xun, 2018. "Urban pollution and road infrastructure: A case study of China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 171-183.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:49:y:2018:i:c:p:171-183
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2017.04.008
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoli Hu & Jieping Chen & Shanlang Lin, 2023. "Influence from highways’ development on green technological innovation: the case of Yangtze River economic belt in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 11095-11120, October.
    2. Yujing Guo & Qian Zhang & Kin Keung Lai & Yingqin Zhang & Shubin Wang & Wanli Zhang, 2020. "The Impact of Urban Transportation Infrastructure on Air Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-25, July.
    3. Yu Chen & Yuandi Wang & Ruifeng Hu, 2020. "Sustainability by High–Speed Rail: The Reduction Mechanisms of Transportation Infrastructure on Haze Pollution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.
    4. Cui, Yin & Li, Zhiyong & Sun, Yu & Sun, Weizheng, 2023. "Environmental performance of an urban passenger transport system and influencing factors: A case study of Tianjin, China," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    5. Rongcheng Zhu & Qian Li, 2023. "How has the Internet fostered the greening of enterprises in China? The moderating role of governmental transparency," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(3), pages 1383-1395, April.
    6. Huang, Guobin & Zhang, Jie & Yu, Jian & Shi, Xunpeng, 2020. "Impact of transportation infrastructure on industrial pollution in Chinese cities: A spatial econometric analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    7. Weiguang Wang & Yangyang Wang, 2023. "Regional Differences, Dynamic Evolution and Driving Factors Analysis of PM 2.5 in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-24, February.
    8. Xiaole Wang & Feng Dong & Yuling Pan & Yajie Liu, 2022. "Transport Infrastructure, High-Quality Development and Industrial Pollution: Fresh Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-24, August.
    9. Xiao Wang & Jiaojiao Li & Jingming Shi & Jia Li & Jianxu Liu & Songsak Sriboonchitta, 2023. "Does China–Europe Railway Express Improve Green Total Factor Productivity in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Xu, Shuhua & Sun, Chuanwang & Wei, Haoyu & Hou, Xinshuo, 2023. "Road construction and air pollution: Analysis of road area ratio in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    11. Renata Činčikaitė & Ieva Meidutė-Kavaliauskienė, 2022. "An Integrated Assessment of the Competitiveness of a Sustainable City within the Context of the COVID-19 Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Mingguang Liu & Jue Zhang & Gaoyang Li, 2024. "Can Energy-Consuming Rights Trading Policies Help to Curb Air Pollution? Evidence from China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-24, August.
    13. Jia Shen & Xiaohong Ren & Zhitao Feng, 2024. "Study on the Railway Effect of the Coordinated Development of the Economy and Environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    14. Xu, Zhiwei & Wen, Qiang & Zhang, Teng, 2023. "Trade policy and air pollution: Evidence from the adjustment of the export tax rebate in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    15. Seyedehmehrmanzar Sohrab & Nándor Csikós & Péter Szilassi, 2022. "Connection between the Spatial Characteristics of the Road and Railway Networks and the Air Pollution (PM10) in Urban–Rural Fringe Zones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    16. Changsheng Xiong & Yu Tian & Xue Liu & Rong Tan & Qiaolin Luan, 2022. "The Different Impacts of Airports on the Ecological Environment under Distinct Institutional Contexts," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Jing Sun & Muhammad Safdar Sial & Dasong Deng & Darina Saxunova & Ahsanuddin Haider & Mohammed Arshad Khan, 2022. "The Significance of Urban Rail Transit Systems in Mitigating Air Pollution Effects: The Case of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-10, October.
    18. Yaqin Wang & Shengsheng Li & Yan Jiang, 2022. "Can Transportation Infrastructure Construction Improve the Urban Green Development Efficiency? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Sun, Chuanwang & Zhang, Wenyue & Fang, Xingming & Gao, Xiang & Xu, Meilian, 2019. "Urban public transport and air quality: Empirical study of China cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban infrastructure; PM10 pollution; Road length; Road width; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R53 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock

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