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Waste import and air pollution: Evidence from China's waste import ban

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  • Shi, Xinzheng
  • Zhang, Ming-ang

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the impact on air pollution of China's 2017 policy banning waste imports. We exploit a difference-in-differences strategy combining the time variation and cross-prefecture variation in waste imports before the policy change. We find that prefectures that imported waste in the prepolicy period experienced greater air quality improvements after the policy shock. This effect is stronger in regions with loose environmental regulations and poor waste utilization capacity. Further investigation shows that reductions in both the burning of unrecyclable waste and the level of industrial production are channels through which the waste import ban reduced air pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Shi, Xinzheng & Zhang, Ming-ang, 2023. "Waste import and air pollution: Evidence from China's waste import ban," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:120:y:2023:i:c:s0095069623000554
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2023.102837
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Waste import; Air pollution; China's waste import ban;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment

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