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Achieving Air Pollution Control Targets with Technology-Aided Monitoring: Better Enforcement or Localized Efforts?

Author

Listed:
  • Lin Yang
  • Yatang Lin
  • Jin Wang
  • Fangyuan Peng

Abstract

Weak enforcement of environmental regulations remains a global issue due to inadequate monitoring and misaligned incentives. This paper examines the effects of automated monitoring on achieving air pollution control targets amidst China's war on pollution. Utilizing the staggered rollout process and remote-sensing data, we find local governments respond to the advanced monitoring system by strategically targeting areas near monitors, resulting in a 3.2 percent decrease in pollution adjacent to automated monitors compared to areas farther away. Furthermore, we observe heterogeneity in response across cities with varying degrees of preexisting data manipulation and among officials facing different incentives and public pressure.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin Yang & Yatang Lin & Jin Wang & Fangyuan Peng, 2024. "Achieving Air Pollution Control Targets with Technology-Aided Monitoring: Better Enforcement or Localized Efforts?," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 16(4), pages 280-315, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:280-315
    DOI: 10.1257/pol.20220810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Jiaqi & Elliott, Robert J.R. & Zhang, Bing & Liu, Mengdi, 2025. "Public environmental complaints and regulatory intensity," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Robert Metcalfe & Sefi Roth, 2025. "Making the Invisible Visible: The Impact of Revealing Indoor Air Pollution on Behavior and Welfare," Framed Field Experiments 00819, The Field Experiments Website.
    3. Wang, Zhiwei & Zhang, Xianfeng & Ding, Chenxin & Sun, Hui, 2025. "Can digital environmental monitoring alleviate environmental inequality? Evidence from ambient air quality standards in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    4. Liu, Xi & Liang, Yinhe, 2025. "Pollution information and intercity investment flows: Evidence from China's air quality monitoring program," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    5. Wei Zhang & Xinyu Li & Guanying Wang & Xiangqian Li, 2026. "Environmental pollution and IPO pricing efficiency: evidence from heavily polluting firms in China," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 757-798, February.
    6. Xi Liu & Yinhe Liang, 2026. "Information, Distance and Firms’ Responses: Evidence from Polluting Monitoring in China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 89(2), pages 1-44, February.
    7. Hong, Hai & Huang, Yongbin, 2025. "Order! the border: Multitasking, air pollution regulation and local government responses," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    8. Li, Pei & Lu, Yi & Peng, Lu & Wang, Jin, 2024. "Information, incentives, and environmental governance: Evidence from China’s ambient air quality standards," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    9. Xiang, Xunyong & Luo, Wenjie & Li, Bin & Liang, Wenquan, 2025. "Decentralized government and firm pollution discharges: Evidence from China’s Province-Managing-County reform," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Li, Pei & Liu, Kaihao & Lu, Yi & Peng, Lu, 2025. "Organizing regulatory structure and local air quality: Evidence from the environmental vertical management reform in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 53(1), pages 139-164.
    11. Metcalfe, Robert & Roth, Sefi, 2025. "Making the invisible visible: the impact of revealing indoor air pollution on behavior and welfare," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 128514, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    12. Zhu, Mingying & Chen, Bo & Hu, Zhiren & Du, Wei, 2025. "Greening through Tourism," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360758, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • P25 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics
    • P28 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Natural Resources; Environment
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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