IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v25y2023i1d10.1007_s10668-021-02063-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect mechanism of Chinese-style decentralization on regional carbon emissions and policy improvement: evidence from China’s 12 urban agglomerations

Author

Listed:
  • Hengzhou Xu

    (Tianjin University)

  • Xiaoyan Li

    (Northwest A&F University)

Abstract

Chinese-style decentralization has brought about the miracle of rapid economic growth for more than thirty years in China. However, with the implementation of the coordinated development strategy of economy and environment, it has set up obstacles to the decrease in regional carbon emissions. In this study, we clarified the effect of Chinese-style decentralization on regional carbon emissions. Then, we tested the effectiveness of emission reduction policies and their potential emission reduction spaces under the Chinese-style decentralization using the panel data of China’s 12 urban agglomerations. The research results are: (1) Chinese-style decentralization affects regional carbon emissions mainly through factor market distortion, investment bias, and environment regulation. (2) Under the influence of Chinese-style decentralization, the effectiveness of emission reduction policies is not fully realized and shows significant spatial interaction. (3) 1% increase in political decentralization causes an 8.9% decrease in the effectiveness of executive order policy; 1% increase in fiscal revenue decentralization causes a 7.1% decrease in the effectiveness of carbon tax policy; 1% increase in financial decentralization causes a 10.6% decrease in the effectiveness of the cleaner production policy. (4) Collaborative governance of carbon emissions between regions is the direction of future emission reduction, and the redesign of emission reduction policies should be formulated based on the degree of regional synergy.

Suggested Citation

  • Hengzhou Xu & Xiaoyan Li, 2023. "Effect mechanism of Chinese-style decentralization on regional carbon emissions and policy improvement: evidence from China’s 12 urban agglomerations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 474-505, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-021-02063-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-02063-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-021-02063-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-021-02063-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhang, Wei & Li, Jing & Li, Guoxiang & Guo, Shucen, 2020. "Emission reduction effect and carbon market efficiency of carbon emissions trading policy in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    2. Yuhuan Sun & Juntao Du & Shuhong Wang, 2020. "Environmental regulations, enterprise productivity, and green technological progress: large-scale data analysis in China," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 290(1), pages 369-384, July.
    3. Wen, Lanjiao & Chatalova, Lioudmila & Gao, Xin & Zhang, Anlu, 2021. "Reduction of carbon emissions through resource-saving and environment-friendly regional economic integration: Evidence from Wuhan metropolitan area, China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Khan, Zeeshan & Ali, Shahid & Dong, Kangyin & Li, Rita Yi Man, 2021. "How does fiscal decentralization affect CO2 emissions? The roles of institutions and human capital," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Ahmed, Zahoor & Asghar, Muhammad Mansoor & Malik, Muhammad Nasir & Nawaz, Kishwar, 2020. "Moving towards a sustainable environment: The dynamic linkage between natural resources, human capital, urbanization, economic growth, and ecological footprint in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    6. Zahoor Ahmed & Muhammad Mansoor Asghar & Muhammad Nasir Malik & Kishwar Nawaz, 2020. "Moving towards a sustainable environment: The dynamic linkage between natural resources, human capital, urbanization, economic growth, and ecological footprint in China," Post-Print hal-03557938, HAL.
    7. Yang, Rui & Tang, Wansheng & Zhang, Jianxiong, 2021. "Technology improvement strategy for green products under competition: The role of government subsidy," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(2), pages 553-568.
    8. Jianing Zang & Liangliang Liu, 2020. "Fiscal decentralization, government environmental preference, and regional environmental governance efficiency: evidence from China," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 65(2), pages 439-457, October.
    9. Ang, B. W., 2005. "The LMDI approach to decomposition analysis: a practical guide," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 867-871, May.
    10. Chen Zhao & Feng Feng & Yuee Chen & Xingteng Li, 2021. "Local government competition and regional innovation efficiency: From the perspective of China-style fiscal federalism," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 48(4), pages 488-489.
    11. von Hobe, Cord-Friedrich & Musshoff, Oliver, 2021. "On the effectiveness of restricted tendering as a form of policy intervention on agricultural land markets," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    12. Liangliang Liu & Donghong Ding & Jun He, 2019. "Fiscal Decentralization, Economic Growth, and Haze Pollution Decoupling Effects: A Simple Model and Evidence from China," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 1423-1441, December.
    13. Cao, Jing & Dai, Hancheng & Li, Shantong & Guo, Chaoyi & Ho, Mun & Cai, Wenjia & He, Jianwu & Huang, Hai & Li, Jifeng & Liu, Yu & Qian, Haoqi & Wang, Can & Wu, Libo & Zhang, Xiliang, 2021. "The general equilibrium impacts of carbon tax policy in China: A multi-model comparison," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    14. Jiandong Chen & Ming Gao & Ding Li & Malin Song, 2020. "Analysis of the rebound effects of fossil and nonfossil energy in China based on sustainable development," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 235-246, January.
    15. Sailian Xia & Daming You & Zhihua Tang & Bo Yang, 2021. "Analysis of the Spatial Effect of Fiscal Decentralization and Environmental Decentralization on Carbon Emissions under the Pressure of Officials’ Promotion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, March.
    16. Zhang, Kun & Zhang, Zong-Yong & Liang, Qiao-Mei, 2017. "An empirical analysis of the green paradox in China: From the perspective of fiscal decentralization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 203-211.
    17. Xia Chen & Jianmin Liu, 2020. "Fiscal Decentralization and Environmental Pollution: A Spatial Analysis," Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, Hindawi, vol. 2020, pages 1-10, March.
    18. Cheng, Shulei & Fan, Wei & Chen, Jiandong & Meng, Fanxin & Liu, Gengyuan & Song, Malin & Yang, Zhifeng, 2020. "The impact of fiscal decentralization on CO2 emissions in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    19. He, Qichun, 2015. "Fiscal decentralization and environmental pollution: Evidence from Chinese panel data," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 86-100.
    20. Renner, Sebastian & Lay, Jann & Greve, Hannes, 2018. "Household welfare and CO2 emission impacts of energy and carbon taxes in Mexico," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 222-235.
    21. Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu & Ren, Siyu, 2020. "How do environmental regulation and environmental decentralization affect green total factor energy efficiency: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    22. Li, Jun & Zhang, Dayong & Su, Bin, 2019. "The Impact of Social Awareness and Lifestyles on Household Carbon Emissions in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 145-155.
    23. Chen, Yang & Cheng, Liang & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chang-song, 2021. "The impact of regional banks on environmental pollution: Evidence from China's city commercial banks," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    24. Liu Chen & Xin Li & Sheng Xue & Lingfei Qu & Minxi Wang, 2019. "Carbon intensity and emission reduction potential in China: spatial measuring method," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    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. Meng Lingyan & Ze Zhao & Haider Ali Malik & Asif Razzaq & Hui An & Marria Hassan, 2022. "Asymmetric impact of fiscal decentralization and environmental innovation on carbon emissions: Evidence from highly decentralized countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 33(4), pages 752-782, June.
    2. Xianpu Xu & Shan Li, 2022. "Neighbor-Companion or Neighbor-Beggar? Estimating the Spatial Spillover Effects of Fiscal Decentralization on China’s Carbon Emissions Based on Spatial Econometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Sun, Yunpeng & Gao, Pengpeng & Razzaq, Asif, 2023. "How does fiscal decentralization lead to renewable energy transition and a sustainable environment? Evidence from highly decentralized economies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1064-1074.
    4. Lin, Boqiang & Zhou, Yicheng, 2021. "Does fiscal decentralization improve energy and environmental performance? New perspective on vertical fiscal imbalance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    5. Zhuoxi Yu & Yu Wu & Zhichuan Zhu, 2023. "Fiscal Decentralization, Environmental Regulation and High-Quality Economic Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Shao, Shuai & Razzaq, Asif, 2022. "Does composite fiscal decentralization reduce trade-adjusted resource consumption through institutional governance, human capital, and infrastructure development?," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    7. Shan, Shan & Ahmad, Munir & Tan, Zhixiong & Adebayo, Tomiwa Sunday & Man Li, Rita Yi & Kirikkaleli, Dervis, 2021. "The role of energy prices and non-linear fiscal decentralization in limiting carbon emissions: Tracking environmental sustainability," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    8. Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha & Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach, 2023. "Revisiting the nexus between fiscal decentralization and CO2 emissions in South Africa: fresh policy insights," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 9(1), pages 1-46, December.
    9. Maxwell Chukwudi Udeagha & Marthinus Christoffel Breitenbach, 2023. "The Role of Fiscal Decentralization in Limiting CO2 Emissions in South Africa," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 1-30, September.
    10. Guitao Qiao & Dan Yang & Mahmood Ahmad & Zahoor Ahmed, 2022. "Modeling for Insights: Does Fiscal Decentralization Impede Ecological Footprint?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-18, August.
    11. Sun, Yunpeng & Guan, Weimin & Razzaq, Asif & Shahzad, Mohsin & Binh An, Nguyen, 2022. "Transition towards ecological sustainability through fiscal decentralization, renewable energy and green investment in OECD countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 385-395.
    12. Mustafa Kamal & Muhammad Usman & Atif Jahanger & Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente, 2021. "Revisiting the Role of Fiscal Policy, Financial Development, and Foreign Direct Investment in Reducing Environmental Pollution during Globalization Mode: Evidence from Linear and Nonlinear Panel Data ," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-25, October.
    13. Khan, Zeeshan & Ali, Shahid & Dong, Kangyin & Li, Rita Yi Man, 2021. "How does fiscal decentralization affect CO2 emissions? The roles of institutions and human capital," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Jiang, Weijie & Li, Yidong, 2023. "Effect of fiscal decentralization on pollution reduction: Firm-level evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    15. Emrah Kocak & Hayriye Hilal Baglitas, 2022. "The path to sustainable municipal solid waste management: Do human development, energy efficiency, and income inequality matter?," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1947-1962, December.
    16. Xia, Wanjun & Murshed, Muntasir & Khan, Zeeshan & Chen, Zhenling & Ferraz, Diogo, 2022. "Exploring the nexus between fiscal decentralization and energy poverty for China: Does country risk matter for energy poverty reduction?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    17. Ayoub Zeraibi & Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente & Khurram Shehzad, 2021. "Testing the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypotheses in Chinese Provinces: A Nexus between Regional Government Expenditures and Environmental Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.
    18. Sailian Xia & Daming You & Zhihua Tang & Bo Yang, 2021. "Analysis of the Spatial Effect of Fiscal Decentralization and Environmental Decentralization on Carbon Emissions under the Pressure of Officials’ Promotion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, March.
    19. 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.
    20. Li, Xiaoyan, 2020. "Design of energy-conservation and emission-reduction plans of China’s industry: Evidence from three typical industries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).

    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:spr:endesu:v:25:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-021-02063-y. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.