IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v188y2024ics0301421524001162.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The role of household energy consumption behavior in environmental policy outcomes —the case of driving restriction policy in zhengzhou

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Jin
  • Shi, Dan
  • Ma, Lianrui
  • Wu, Yuan
  • Liu, Shoulin
  • Li, Jinkai

Abstract

The evaluation of the environmental effects of the driving restriction policy often sparks widespread discussions in the literature due to its complex and controversial assessment methods. Fewer studies have delved into the exploration of household energy consumption behavior, the role played by the targeted subjects of policy implementation, and the policy's impact on climate change. This paper focuses on the case of Zhengzhou, a city in China, to thoroughly discuss the formulation process of the driving restriction policy. By utilizing publicly available statistical data and conducting surveys among 795 households, this research employs statistical methods such as regression discontinuity, difference-in-differences estimation, and improved causal stepwise regression to quantitatively estimate the environmental consequences of the driving restriction policy. It also examines the impact of changes in residents' consumption behavior on policy effects and climate change under this policy shock. The study aims at bridging the gap between environmental policy effects, individual behavior changes, and climate change research. Our findings indicate that the driving restriction policy is effective in the short term, significantly improving air quality. However, due to the stickiness of residents' household consumption behavior and the adaptive adjustments in long-term travel behavior, the pollution-reducing effects of the policy gradually weaken and even exacerbate air pollution, resulting in an additional increase of approximately 147,950 tons of carbon dioxide emissions after the policy had been implemented for nine months. Therefore, this paper further suggests that implementing environmental policies requires close coordination with adjustments in household energy consumption behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Jin & Shi, Dan & Ma, Lianrui & Wu, Yuan & Liu, Shoulin & Li, Jinkai, 2024. "The role of household energy consumption behavior in environmental policy outcomes —the case of driving restriction policy in zhengzhou," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:188:y:2024:i:c:s0301421524001162
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114096
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421524001162
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114096?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucas W. Davis, 2008. "The Effect of Driving Restrictions on Air Quality in Mexico City," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(1), pages 38-81, February.
    2. Chen, Yuyu & Jin, Ginger Zhe & Kumar, Naresh & Shi, Guang, 2013. "The promise of Beijing: Evaluating the impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on air quality," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 424-443.
    3. Lei, Mingyu & Cai, Wenjia & Liu, Wenling & Wang, Can, 2022. "The heterogeneity in energy consumption patterns and home appliance purchasing preferences across urban households in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    4. David S. Lee & Thomas Lemieux, 2010. "Regression Discontinuity Designs in Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 48(2), pages 281-355, June.
    5. Viard, V. Brian & Fu, Shihe, 2015. "The effect of Beijing's driving restrictions on pollution and economic activity," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 98-115.
    6. Ari Hyytinen & Jaakko Meriläinen & Tuukka Saarimaa & Otto Toivanen & Janne Tukiainen, 2018. "When does regression discontinuity design work? Evidence from random election outcomes," Quantitative Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 9(2), pages 1019-1051, July.
    7. Jose Enrique & Ricard Gil & Felix Holub & Guillermo Uriz, 2023. "Social Benefits and Private Costs of Driving Restriction Policies: The Impact of Madrid Central on Congestion, Pollution, and Consumer Spending," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 21(3), pages 1227-1267.
    8. Sun, Cong & Zheng, Siqi & Wang, Rui, 2014. "Restricting driving for better traffic and clearer skies: Did it work in Beijing?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 34-41.
    9. Erick Guerra & Andrew Sandweiss & Seunglee David Park, 2022. "Does rationing really backfire? A critical review of the literature on license-plate-based driving restrictions," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(5), pages 604-625, September.
    10. Ru-Jin Huang & Yanlin Zhang & Carlo Bozzetti & Kin-Fai Ho & Jun-Ji Cao & Yongming Han & Kaspar R. Daellenbach & Jay G. Slowik & Stephen M. Platt & Francesco Canonaco & Peter Zotter & Robert Wolf & Sim, 2014. "High secondary aerosol contribution to particulate pollution during haze events in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7521), pages 218-222, October.
    11. Ye, Jingjing, 2017. "Better safe than sorry? Evidence from Lanzhou's driving restriction policy," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-21.
    12. Christian Salas, 2010. "Evaluating Public Policies with High Frequency Data: Evidence for Driving Restrictions in Mexico City Revisited," Documentos de Trabajo 374, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    13. Green, Donald P. & Leong, Terence Y. & Kern, Holger L. & Gerber, Alan S. & Larimer, Christopher W., 2009. "Testing the Accuracy of Regression Discontinuity Analysis Using Experimental Benchmarks," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 400-417.
    14. Zhang, Wei & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia & Umanskaya, Victoria I., 2017. "The effects of license plate-based driving restrictions on air quality: Theory and empirical evidence," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 181-220.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Ling & Yang, Linchuan, 2023. "Effects of driving restrictions on air quality and housing prices: Evidence from Chengdu, China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Rivera, Nathaly M., 2017. "The Effectiveness of Temporary Driving Restrictions: Evidence from Air Pollution, Vehicle Flows, and Mass-Transit Users in Santiago," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 259182, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Rivera, Nathaly M., 2021. "Air quality warnings and temporary driving bans: Evidence from air pollution, car trips, and mass-transit ridership in Santiago," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. Wenbo Meng, 2022. "Understanding the Heterogeneity in the Effect of Driving Restriction Policies on Air Quality: Evidence from Chinese Cities," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 82(1), pages 133-175, May.
    5. Xin Li & Shuhan Jiang & Tianqi Wang & Jia Hu & Yun Yuan, 2022. "Evaluating the impact of partial driving restrictions on local air quality in Chongqing using regression discontinuity design," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 49(2), pages 464-484, February.
    6. Jerch, Rhiannon & Barwick, Panle Jia & Li, Shanjun & Wu, Jing, 2024. "The impact of road rationing on housing demand and sorting," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    7. Li, Shanjun & Liu, Yanyan & Purevjav, Avralt-Od & Yang, Lin, 2019. "Does subway expansion improve air quality?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 213-235.
    8. Mauricio Villamizar‐Villegas & Freddy A. Pinzon‐Puerto & Maria Alejandra Ruiz‐Sanchez, 2022. "A comprehensive history of regression discontinuity designs: An empirical survey of the last 60 years," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1130-1178, September.
    9. Blackman, Allen & Qin, Ping & Yang, Jun, 2020. "How costly are driving restrictions? Contingent valuation evidence from Beijing," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    10. Zhang, Linling & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong, 2019. "Do car restriction policies effectively promote the development of public transport?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 100-110.
    11. Kheiravar, Khaled H, 2019. "Economic and Econometric Analyses of the World Petroleum Industry, Energy Subsidies, and Air Pollution," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt3gj151w9, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    12. Sun, Chuanwang & Xu, Shuhua & Yang, Mian & Gong, Xu, 2022. "Urban traffic regulation and air pollution: A case study of urban motor vehicle restriction policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    13. Lyu, Xueying, 2022. "Car restriction policies and housing markets," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    14. Viard, V. Brian & Fu, Shihe, 2015. "The effect of Beijing's driving restrictions on pollution and economic activity," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 98-115.
    15. Fu, Shihe & Gu, Yizhen, 2017. "Highway toll and air pollution: Evidence from Chinese cities," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 32-49.
    16. Zhang, Wei & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia & Umanskaya, Victoria I., 2017. "The effects of license plate-based driving restrictions on air quality: Theory and empirical evidence," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 181-220.
    17. Li, Wenbo, 2023. "The effect of China's driving restrictions on air pollution: The role of a policy announcement without a stated expiration," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    18. Ye, Jingjing & Qin, Zhilong & Chen, Xiaoguang, 2021. "Adapt by adopting cleaner vehicles? — Evidence from a low-emission zone policy in Nanchang, China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    19. Fardella, Carlos & Barahona, Nano & Montero, Juan-Pablo & Sepúlveda, Felipe, 2023. "On the geography of vintage-specific restrictions," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    20. Rhiannon Jerch & Panle Jia Barwick & Shanjun Li & Jing Wu, 2020. "Road Rationing Policies and Housing Markets," DETU Working Papers 2004, Department of Economics, Temple University.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:188:y:2024:i:c:s0301421524001162. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.