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Has Central Government Environmental Protection Interview Improved Air Quality in China?

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  • Wang, Shanyong
  • Zhang, Rongwei
  • Wan, Liang
  • Chen, Jiusong

Abstract

The inhibitory effect of environmental protection interview (EPI) on air pollution is self-evident. However, the sustained effect of EPI is still controversial in current studies. Meanwhile, the mechanism of the effect of EPI on air pollution and the policy efficiency have also not been sufficiently explained. To narrow the research gap, this research explores the relevant issues using the time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) method based on panel data of 287 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2020. It is found that EPI reduces PM2.5 by 3.709 μg/m3 on average, and the curbing effect exists for 5 years after the policy implementation. Mechanism analysis shows that EPI reduces air pollution by raising the attention of local governments to environmental protection, promoting industrial structure upgrading, mobilizing public participation, and synergistic management of the threefold approach. Heterogeneity analysis further suggests that the reduction effect of EPI is more pronounced in regions with developed economies, poor resource endowments, and low levels of rule of law. The final analysis of policy efficiency indicates that the health benefits generated by EPI are 2.82 times greater than the economic costs of its application.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Shanyong & Zhang, Rongwei & Wan, Liang & Chen, Jiusong, 2023. "Has Central Government Environmental Protection Interview Improved Air Quality in China?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:206:y:2023:i:c:s0921800923000137
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2023.107750
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