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Citizens’ Satisfaction with Air Quality and Key Factors in China—Using the Anchoring Vignettes Method

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  • Zongfeng Sun

    (School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Jintao Li

    (Institute of Governance, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

Abstract

This study uses the anchoring vignettes method to accurately measure citizens’ perceptions of air quality by correcting for the measurement errors which often exist in subjective satisfaction indexes. Our study shows that there is significant variation in satisfaction with air quality before and after using the anchoring vignettes method, especially when calculating and comparing satisfaction levels with the city-level air quality index. In addition, we found that the actual air pollution does indeed decrease citizens’ satisfaction with it, but that the relationship between the two is non-linear. However, among the relevant pollution indicators, citizens are more easily influenced by PM2.5 rather than by SO 2 and dust emission concentrations. Finally, our research also found evidence to support the idea that public expectations of air quality in China affect satisfaction levels. Our findings therefore challenge the idea that the relationship between actual and perceived air quality is straightforward, and also confirm that expectation theory holds true for levels of satisfaction with air quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Zongfeng Sun & Jintao Li, 2019. "Citizens’ Satisfaction with Air Quality and Key Factors in China—Using the Anchoring Vignettes Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:8:p:2206-:d:222246
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    Cited by:

    1. Ning (Chris) Chen & C. Michael Hall & Kangkang Yu & Cheng Qian, 2019. "Environmental Satisfaction, Residential Satisfaction, and Place Attachment: The Cases of Long-Term Residents in Rural and Urban Areas in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Daxin Dong & Xiaowei Xu & Wen Xu & Junye Xie, 2019. "The Relationship Between the Actual Level of Air Pollution and Residents’ Concern about Air Pollution: Evidence from Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Nan Wu & Cunkuan Bao & Weichun Ma, 2023. "Consistency between Environmental Performance and Public Satisfaction and Their Planning Intervention Strategies: A Policy Text Analysis of Urban Environmental Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-24, March.

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