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Cleaning up the air for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: Empirical study on China's thermal power sector

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  • Ma, Teng
  • Takeuchi, Kenji

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (BOG08) on pollution control strategies in the thermal power sector. We focus on two pollution control strategies: the installation of pollution control equipment and improvement in energy efficiency. By using a difference-in-differences methodology, we investigate if there is a significant difference in the installation of pollution control equipment between provinces under the regional control policy for the BOG08 and other provinces. Furthermore, by using matching methods, we explore the differences in the energy efficiency between power plants in provinces targeted by the policy and those in other provinces. The results suggest that there are no statistically significant effects of the BOG08 on pollution control equipment. On the other hand, energy efficiency measured by the coal consumption per unit of electricity generation by thermal power plants improved in 2007 and 2008 in provinces designated as areas requiring coordinated air pollution control for the Olympic Games. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that faster and cheaper responses played a larger role in pollution reduction in BOG08.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Teng & Takeuchi, Kenji, 2020. "Cleaning up the air for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games: Empirical study on China's thermal power sector," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:resene:v:60:y:2020:i:c:s0928765517303032
    DOI: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2020.101151
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chen, Yuyu & Jin, Ginger Zhe & Kumar, Naresh & Shi, Guang, 2013. "The promise of Beijing: Evaluating the impact of the 2008 Olympic Games on air quality," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 424-443.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tan, Jianhua & Tan, Zhidong & Chan, Kam C., 2021. "Does air pollution affect a firm's cash holdings?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    2. Zhang, Cheng & Zhou, Xinxin & Zhou, Bo & Zhao, Ziwei, 2022. "Impacts of a mega sporting event on local carbon emissions: A case of the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air pollution; China; Beijing Olympic Games; Thermal power sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities

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