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Vehicle exhaust standards and urban air quality in China

Author

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  • Shu, Li
  • Wang, Chunhua
  • Wang, Wei

Abstract

This study quantifies the effects of increasing the share of low-emission passenger vehicles on urban air quality in China. We estimate a two-stage least squares model, using the phased implementation of National Vehicle Emission Standards VI in 2019 as an instrumental variable for fleet composition. Our findings indicate that a 1% increase in the share of vehicles compliant with the stricter vehicle exhaust standards leads to a 0.083% reduction in the average pollutant concentration across three measures of air pollution. Furthermore, our calculation suggests that the monetized health benefits from reductions in particulate matter outweigh the costs of adhering to stricter exhaust standards by a factor of two.

Suggested Citation

  • Shu, Li & Wang, Chunhua & Wang, Wei, 2025. "Vehicle exhaust standards and urban air quality in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:172:y:2025:i:c:s0304387824001366
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103387
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exhaust standard; Vehicle fleet; Air quality; China;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy

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