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Health burden, environmental decentralization and associated political achievements in China

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  • Bellalah, Mondher
  • Jawadi, Fredj
  • Zhang, Detao
  • Zhang, Jingjing

Abstract

Environmental pollution has had a negative impact on the population’s well-being, impeding the pursuit of a better standard of living. This study seeks to investigate the impact of environmental decentralization in China on the health burden, thereby expanding research on environmental federalism, health, and welfare. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces, the empirical findings show that good environmental performance and moderate economic development significantly reduce the environmental health burden. Notably, as environmental decentralization increases, the impact of environmental performance becomes more pronounced, particularly in terms of environmental administration and monitoring. The effect of environmental performance in reducing health burdens is more visible in the northern and western regions with relatively severe pollution, as well as in the subsample with higher health burdens. Overall, this paper emphasizes the importance of political institutional factors in reducing the health burden.

Suggested Citation

  • Bellalah, Mondher & Jawadi, Fredj & Zhang, Detao & Zhang, Jingjing, 2024. "Health burden, environmental decentralization and associated political achievements in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:74:y:2024:i:c:s1062940824001670
    DOI: 10.1016/j.najef.2024.102242
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; Environmental decentralization; Health burden; Performance; Pollution;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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