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Marginal abatement cost, air pollution and economic growth: Evidence from Chinese cities

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  • Ji, D.J.
  • Zhou, P.

Abstract

The directional distance function (DDF) with multiple bad outputs allows estimation of conditional marginal abatement cost (MAC) that would be more informative than the unconditional MAC estimated with a single pollutant. Applying a multi-pollutant parametric output DDF approach, we estimate the MACs of CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions for 105 Chinese cities in 2006–2014. It is found that the period medians of the MACs for the three emissions all increase over time, while the medians of the MACs for different cities tend to vary significantly. A goodness-of-fit criterion is developed and used to evaluate the fit of alternative models, which demonstrates the superiority of the multi-pollutant model. We have also shown that there exists a positive relationship between MAC and economic growth. Finally, several policy implications are suggested for reducing the overall emission abatement costs of China.

Suggested Citation

  • Ji, D.J. & Zhou, P., 2020. "Marginal abatement cost, air pollution and economic growth: Evidence from Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:86:y:2020:i:c:s0140988319304554
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2019.104658
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marginal abatement cost; Shadow price; Directional distance function; City;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • Q43 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Energy and the Macroeconomy
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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