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Political Blue Sky: Evidence from the Local Annual “Two Sessions” in China

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  • Shi, Qingling
  • Shi, Chenchen
  • Guo, Feng

Abstract

During politically sensitive periods, Chinese governments tend to take urgent administrative measures to control air pollution creating the temporary political blue sky. This empirical study uses the case of local "two sessions", one of the most politically sensitive periods in localities and examines the daily air quality index (AQI) as well as concentration data of air pollution components, including PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2 and O3 of 319 cities in China from November 2013 to June 2018. Results show that AQI decreases by approximately 4.5% during local "two sessions" periods compared to non- “two sessions” periods. Air quality improvements are mainly reflected in visible pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10 and SO2. The mitigation of NO2 and O3, which is not observable by public, is not significant. In addition, the empirical results indicate that air quality deteriorates dramatically after the "two sessions". Therefore, the political blue sky comes with the price of catching up pollution that occurs after the political events.

Suggested Citation

  • Shi, Qingling & Shi, Chenchen & Guo, Feng, 2020. "Political Blue Sky: Evidence from the Local Annual “Two Sessions” in China," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:resene:v:61:y:2020:i:c:s0928765519300211
    DOI: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2020.101165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qingling Shi & Chenchen Shi & Feng Guo, 2020. "National leaders’ visits and temporary improvement of air quality: evidence from Chinese cities," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 2105-2127, May.
    2. Li, Hongbin & Zhou, Li-An, 2005. "Political turnover and economic performance: the incentive role of personnel control in China," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(9-10), pages 1743-1762, September.
    3. Zheng, Siqi & Kahn, Matthew E. & Sun, Weizeng & Luo, Danglun, 2014. "Incentives for China's urban mayors to mitigate pollution externalities: The role of the central government and public environmentalism," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 61-71.
    4. Zhang, Junjie & Mu, Quan, 2018. "Air pollution and defensive expenditures: Evidence from particulate-filtering facemasks," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 517-536.
    5. Nie, Huihua & Jiang, Minjie & Wang, Xianghong, 2013. "The impact of political cycle: Evidence from coalmine accidents in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 995-1011.
    6. Qingling Shi & Feng Guo, 2019. "Do people have a negative impression of government on polluted days? Evidence from Chinese Cities," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(5), pages 797-817, April.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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