IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p13655-d1238598.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Structural Characteristics of Intergovernmental Water Pollution Control Cooperation Networks Using Social Network Analysis and GIS in Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China

Author

Listed:
  • Jiangyang Lin

    (School of Management, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201602, China)

  • Yuanhong Tian

    (School of Management, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201602, China)

  • Qian Yao

    (School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

  • Yong Shi

    (Department of Economics and Management, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China)

Abstract

Water pollution exhibits distinct negative externalities, necessitating trans-regional collaborative governance among basin governments. However, few studies have examined the structural features of water pollution collaboration networks among local governments in China from a spatial analysis perspective. This study focuses on 27 central cities in the Yangtze River Delta, collecting 109 policy texts and evidence of cooperative actions on water pollution governance among these cities. By utilizing a combination of social network analysis and GIS spatial analysis, the research visualizes the results and delves into the overall structure and internal features of the network. The results indicate that the density of the water pollution cooperation network is 0.75, suggesting that a relatively stable and closely connected network for collaborative governance of water pollution has been formed. Furthermore, the water pollution cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta exhibits a typical “multi-center” network structure, with Shanghai–Suzhou, Nanjing, and Hangzhou as the core, forming three city clusters with tighter cooperation. Suzhou, Shanghai, and Jiaxing have the highest degree of centrality, which are 51, 46, and 44, respectively. The analysis of degree centrality reveals that cities with higher levels of economic development or those that serve as provincial capitals often play a leading role in the cooperation network. The study also observes that adjacent cities or local governments closer to the core cities are more likely to establish cooperative relationships; this phenomenon is not limited by provincial administrative boundaries.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiangyang Lin & Yuanhong Tian & Qian Yao & Yong Shi, 2023. "Structural Characteristics of Intergovernmental Water Pollution Control Cooperation Networks Using Social Network Analysis and GIS in Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13655-:d:1238598
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13655/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13655/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhen Yu & Qingjian Zhao, 2022. "Research on the Coordinated Governance Mechanism of Cross-Regional and Cross-Basin Ecological Compensation in the Yangtze River Delta," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-20, August.
    2. Zhanjie Wang & Yongfeng Ma & Shasha Wang & Chaoliang Luo & Yongjian Wang, 2023. "The Evolution of the Collaborative Environmental Governance Network in Guizhou Province, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    3. Liu, Yunqiang & Zhu, Jialing & Li, Eldon Y. & Meng, Zhiyi & Song, Yan, 2020. "Environmental regulation, green technological innovation, and eco-efficiency: The case of Yangtze river economic belt in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    4. Qi Zhou & Jing Zhang & Yong Niu & Jianjian Wang, 2021. "Environmental Risk Assessment and Regulatory Rating of Water Sources along the Yangtze River’s Nanjing Section under the Influence of Multiple Risk Sources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, February.
    5. Mengru Wang & Annette B. G. Janssen & Jeanne Bazin & Maryna Strokal & Lin Ma & Carolien Kroeze, 2022. "Accounting for interactions between Sustainable Development Goals is essential for water pollution control in China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Yao Liu & Jiannan Wu & Hongtao Yi & Jing Wen, 2021. "Under what conditions do governments collaborate? A qualitative comparative analysis of air pollution control in China," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(11), pages 1664-1682, November.
    7. Yun Zhong & Xiaobo Su, 2019. "Spatial selectivity and intercity cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(14), pages 3011-3029, November.
    8. Xiaoqiong Liu & Xu Wang & Feiyu Lu & Shuai Liu & Kunlun Chen, 2022. "Evaluation of the Governance Efficiency of Water Environmental Governance Efficiency in Yangtze River Delta from the Perspective of Multivariate Synergies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-19, February.
    9. Chu Qin & Wei Zhang, 2022. "Green, poverty reduction and spatial spillover: an analysis from 21 provinces of China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(12), pages 13610-13629, December.
    10. Hongtao Yi & Yan Yang & Chao Zhou, 2021. "The Impact of Collaboration Network on Water Resource Governance Performance: Evidence from China’s Yangtze River Delta Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-19, March.
    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. Peng, Yue & Wang, Wei & Zhen, Shangsong & Liu, Yunqiang, 2024. "Does digitalization help green consumption? Empirical test based on the perspective of supply and demand of green products," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Xiao Zhang & Di Wang, 2023. "Beyond the Ecological Boundary: A Quasi-Natural Experiment on the Impact of National Marine Parks on Eco-Efficiency in Coastal Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Yu, Rong & Li, Jianhong, 2024. "Does fintech influence sustainable development under natural resource constraints: insights from 270 Chinese cities," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Shang, Hua & Jiang, Li & Pan, Xianyou & Pan, Xiongfeng, 2022. "Green technology innovation spillover effect and urban eco-efficiency convergence: Evidence from Chinese cities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    5. Xinbei Huang & Chengming Ye & Hongyu Tao & Junjie Zou & Yuzhan Zhou & Shufan Zheng, 2024. "Integrating Future Multi-Scenarios to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Ecological Restoration: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Matterne, Ilias & Roggeman, Annelies & Verleyen, Isabelle, 2024. "The impact of environmental taxation on innovation: Evidence from Canada," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    7. Zhao, Desen & Dou, Yao & Tong, Lu, 2022. "Effect of fiscal decentralization and dual environmental regulation on green poverty reduction: The case of China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Mengxuan Yan & Yuhong Tian & Lizhu Wu & Huichao Zheng, 2024. "Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Pattern and Interaction of SDGs for Sustainable Development in Inner Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-22, August.
    9. Tifang Ye & Xiuli Xiang & Xiangyu Ge & Keling Yang, 2022. "Research on Green Finance and Green Development Based Eco-Efficiency and Spatial Econometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-29, February.
    10. Niu, Peng & Yang, Yujia & Sun, Lirong, 2023. "High quality imports and green innovation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 2(2).
    11. Zhang, Yixiang & Xiong, Yali & Li, Feng & Cheng, Jinhua & Yue, Xiaochen, 2020. "Environmental regulation, capital output and energy efficiency in China: An empirical research based on integrated energy prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    12. Di Wang & Zhiyuan Zhang & Ruyi Shi, 2022. "Fiscal Decentralization, Green Technology Innovation, and Regional Air Pollution in China: An Investigation from the Perspective of Intergovernmental Competition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-18, July.
    13. Ying She & Yaobin Liu & Yangu Deng & Lei Jiang, 2020. "Can China’s Government-Oriented Environmental Regulation Reduce Water Pollution? Evidence from Water Pollution Intensive Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, September.
    14. Larbi-Siaw, Otu & Xuhua, Hu & Owusu, Ebenezer & Owusu-Agyeman, Abigail & Fulgence, Brou Ettien & Frimpong, Samuel Akwasi, 2022. "Eco-innovation, sustainable business performance and market turbulence moderation in emerging economies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Hui Deng & Chuang Li & Liping Wang, 2022. "The Impact of Corporate Innovation on Environmental Performance: The Moderating Effect of Financing Constraints and Government Subsidies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-18, September.
    16. Zhang, Han & Zheng, Jinhui & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Zhao, Shikuan & Bouri, Elie, 2024. "How does urban land use efficiency improve resource and environment carrying capacity?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    17. Mingjie Song & Doudou Huang & Basanta Paudel, 2022. "A Supply-Demand Framework for Eco-Compensation Calculation and Allocation in China’s National Key Ecological Function Areas—A Case Study in the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, December.
    18. Ying Cheng & Zhen Liu & Li Gao & Yanan Zhao & Tingting Gao, 2022. "Traffic Risk Environment Impact Analysis and Complexity Assessment of Autonomous Vehicles Based on the Potential Field Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-14, August.
    19. Wang, Xiaoling & Zhang, Tianyue & Nathwani, Jatin & Yang, Fangming & Shao, Qinglong, 2022. "Environmental regulation, technology innovation, and low carbon development: Revisiting the EKC Hypothesis, Porter Hypothesis, and Jevons’ Paradox in China's iron & steel industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    20. Qi Zhou, 2022. "Environmental Risk Assessment of the Zhengrunzhou Water Source under the Influence of Oil Spill Accidents at the Wharf Group," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-28, June.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:13655-:d:1238598. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.