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The Interaction Mechanism of Fiscal Pressure, Local Government Behavioral Preferences and Environmental Governance Efficiency: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region of China

Author

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  • Tinghui Wang

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Qi Fu

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    The Institute of Regional Governance, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    Research Institute of Metropolitan Development of China, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Yue Wang

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Mengfan Gao

    (School of Urban and Rural Construction, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Jinzhong 030801, China)

  • Jinhua Chen

    (School of Politics and Public Administration, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    The Institute of Regional Governance, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    Research Institute of Metropolitan Development of China, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

Abstract

In environmental governance, local governments are the main actors, and their behavioral preferences between economic growth competition (EGC) and environmental regulation (ER) affect the inputs and outputs of environmental governance. Most studies discuss the relationship between government behaviors and the environment from the fiscal decentralization perspective, with few studies from the fiscal pressure (FP) perspective. Importantly, the bidirectional interaction mechanism is easily ignored. This study measured local government FP, EGC, ER, and environmental governance efficiency (EGE) in China’s Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region from 2000 to 2020. Moran’s I index was used to identify the change characteristics of local government behavioral preferences. The interaction mechanism was analyzed by a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model. The results show that (1) from 2000 to 2020, FP was generally strengthened. EGE generally showed fluctuating and rising change characteristics, with more obvious fluctuating and rising characteristics before 2012 and after 2012, respectively. Local governments shifted from a strong alternative preference to a weak synergistic preference. (2) FP had a self-reinforcing effect. EGC and ER had a self-weakening effect. EGE had not only a self-weakening effect but also a weak self-dependence. (3) There is a double negative interaction mechanism between FP and local government behavioral preferences. FP made local governments prefer to reduce EGC and relax ER, but in fact, EGC and ER were conducive to alleviating FP. (4) There is a negative transitive influence mechanism between FP, local government behavioral preferences and EGE. The negative effect of FP on EGE can be transmitted by reducing EGC and ER. This paper provides a scientific basis for improving EGE in the YRD region and understanding the behavioral logic of local governments’ environmental governance and a reference for other rapidly industrializing and urbanizing regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Tinghui Wang & Qi Fu & Yue Wang & Mengfan Gao & Jinhua Chen, 2022. "The Interaction Mechanism of Fiscal Pressure, Local Government Behavioral Preferences and Environmental Governance Efficiency: Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta Region of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16618-:d:999789
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