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Can the New Subway Line Openings Mitigate PM10 Concentration? Evidence from Chinese Cities Based on the PSM-DID Method

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  • Ying Wang

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China)

  • Jing Tao

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China)

  • Rong Wang

    (School of Economics and Management, Nanjing Institute of Technology, Nanjing 211167, China)

  • Chuanmin Mi

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China)

Abstract

The large-scale construction of subway systems, which is viewed as one of the potential measures to mitigate traffic congestion and its resulting air pollution and health impact, is taking place in major cities throughout China. However, the literature on the impact of the new subway line openings on particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 µm (PM10) at the city level is scarce. Employing the Propensity Score Matching–Difference-in-differences method, this paper examines the effect of the new subway line openings on air quality in terms of PM10 in China, using the daily PM10 concentration data from January 2014 to December 2017. Our finding shows that the short-term treatment effect on PM10 is more controversial. Furthermore, for different time windows, the result confirms an increase in PM10 pollution during the short term, while the subway line openings improve air quality in the longer term. In addition, we find that the treatment effect results in high PM10 pollution for cities with 1–2 million people, while it improves air quality for cities with over 2 million people. Moreover, for cities with varying levels of GDP, there is evidence of a reduction in PM10 after the subway line openings. Mechanism analysis supports the conclusion that the PM10 reduction originated from substituting the subway for driving.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Wang & Jing Tao & Rong Wang & Chuanmin Mi, 2020. "Can the New Subway Line Openings Mitigate PM10 Concentration? Evidence from Chinese Cities Based on the PSM-DID Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4638-:d:377203
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    2. Meina Zheng & Xiucheng Guo & Feng Liu & Jiayan Shen, 2021. "Contribution of Subway Expansions to Air Quality Improvement and the Corresponding Health Implications in Nanjing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.

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    Keywords

    subway; PM10 pollution; PSM–DID method; traffic congestion;
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