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Urbanization Paradox of Environmental Policies in Korean Local Governments

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Listed:
  • Yongrok Choi

    (Department of International Trade, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyoungsuk Lee

    (Energy Environment Policy and Technology, Graduate School of Energy and Environment (KU-KIST Green School), Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea)

  • Hojin Jeong

    (Program of Industrial Security Governance, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea)

  • Jahira Debbarma

    (Program of Industrial Security Governance, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Many developing countries have been experiencing the problems of urbanization, particularly regarding carbon emission and polluted air emission mitigation. Is it possible to simultaneously achieve these two different clean and green economic strategies? This study analyzes this paradoxical issue of air pollution in terms of PM 2.5 efficiency. To evaluate the performance of regulatory policies on air pollution and to find out the governance factors, this paper adopts the stepwise approach. In the first stage, we evaluate the cross-sectional PM 2.5 efficiency of 16 Korean municipalities for the period between 2012 and 2017 and determine whether this performance is sustainable using the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI). We concluded that most local governments lack sustainable governance on regulation policies for clean air. Using the Tobit model in the second stage, this study showed that regional economic development (GRDP) and an patent for clean air technology innovation are the most important strategic factors that promote sustainability in regulation policy performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongrok Choi & Hyoungsuk Lee & Hojin Jeong & Jahira Debbarma, 2023. "Urbanization Paradox of Environmental Policies in Korean Local Governments," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:436-:d:1060976
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Raihan, Asif, 2023. "Nexus between greenhouse gas emissions and its determinants: The role of renewable energy and technological innovations towards green development in South Korea," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(3).

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