IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i20p9213-d1773563.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Does the National Intellectual Property Strong County Program Improve County-Level Air Quality? Evidence from Chinese Counties

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaofeng Zhang

    (School of Public Finance and Administration, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin 150028, China)

  • Xuefu Sun

    (School of Public Finance and Administration, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin 150028, China)

  • Yu Fu

    (School of Public Finance and Administration, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin 150028, China)

Abstract

Intellectual property protection systems play a critical role in fostering technological innovation, and their potential influence on environmental governance warrants further exploration. This paper utilizes data from 2607 counties in China spanning from 2000 to 2022 and employs the Multiple Timepoint Difference-in-Differences (MT-DID) model to investigate the impact of the National Intellectual Property Strong County Program (NIPSC) on air quality at the county level. The results reveal that NIPSC contributes to reducing SO 2 and NH 3 concentrations, highlighting the positive role of intellectual property protection policies in enhancing environmental quality. Further mechanism analysis shows that NIPSC effectively reduces pollution emissions through mechanisms such as fostering technological innovation, upgrading industrial structures, and promoting economic agglomeration. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the NIPSC policy yields more pronounced improvements in air quality in regions that are not traditional industrial bases, possess international airports, or hold higher administrative status. This study offers a novel analytical perspective on county-level air pollution governance and presents new empirical evidence on the relationship between the NIPSC policy and environmental governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaofeng Zhang & Xuefu Sun & Yu Fu, 2025. "How Does the National Intellectual Property Strong County Program Improve County-Level Air Quality? Evidence from Chinese Counties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9213-:d:1773563
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/9213/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/20/9213/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David H. Autor, 2003. "Outsourcing at Will: The Contribution of Unjust Dismissal Doctrine to the Growth of Employment Outsourcing," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 21(1), pages 1-42, January.
    2. Lu, Mengyuan & Yi, Baozhong, 2025. "The impact of environmental decentralization on corporate green innovation: Empirical evidence from local governments," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Raj Chetty & Adam Looney & Kory Kroft, 2009. "Salience and Taxation: Theory and Evidence," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 99(4), pages 1145-1177, September.
    4. Sebastian Galiani & Paul Gertler & Ernesto Schargrodsky, 2005. "Water for Life: The Impact of the Privatization of Water Services on Child Mortality," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 113(1), pages 83-120, February.
    5. Callaway, Brantly & Sant’Anna, Pedro H.C., 2021. "Difference-in-Differences with multiple time periods," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 200-230.
    6. Brüggemann, Julia & Crosetto, Paolo & Meub, Lukas & Bizer, Kilian, 2016. "Intellectual property rights hinder sequential innovation. Experimental evidence," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(10), pages 2054-2068.
    7. Marianne Bertrand & Esther Duflo & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "How Much Should We Trust Differences-In-Differences Estimates?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 119(1), pages 249-275.
    8. Faucheux, Sylvie & Nicolai, Isabelle, 1998. "Environmental technological change and governance in sustainable development policy," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 243-256, December.
    9. Zhao, Qiuhan & Wu, Wei & Ge, Yuanqin & Xu, Jing, 2025. "Can intellectual property protection policy enhance enterprise innovation capability? Quasi-natural experimental study," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    10. Julia Brüggemann & Paolo Crosetto & Lukas Meub & Kilian Bizer, 2016. "Intellectual property rights hinder sequential innovation: experimental evidence," Post-Print hal-01997135, HAL.
    11. Cheng, Gongpin & Shi, Yuejun & Zhou, Hua, 2025. "Analysis of the effects of green technology innovation and industrial structure upgrading on carbon emission intensity," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    12. Changlin Yu & Bing Shen, 2024. "Intellectual Property Policy and County Economic Growth: A Quasi‐natural Experiment from the Intellectual Property Powering County Project," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 32(6), pages 35-67, November.
    13. Goodman-Bacon, Andrew, 2021. "Difference-in-differences with variation in treatment timing," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 254-277.
    14. Rajeev H. Dehejia & Sadek Wahba, 2002. "Propensity Score-Matching Methods For Nonexperimental Causal Studies," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(1), pages 151-161, February.
    15. Pisano, Gary, 2006. "Profiting from innovation and the intellectual property revolution," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1122-1130, October.
    16. Xu, Le & Fan, Meiting & Yang, Lili & Shao, Shuai, 2021. "Heterogeneous green innovations and carbon emission performance: Evidence at China's city level," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    17. Nguyen, Thi Phuong Thao & Huang, Fang & Tian, Xiaowen, 2023. "Intellectual property protection need as a driver for open innovation: Empirical evidence from Vietnam," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    18. Zhang, Yue-Jun & Peng, Yu-Lu & Ma, Chao-Qun & Shen, Bo, 2017. "Can environmental innovation facilitate carbon emissions reduction? Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 18-28.
    19. Song, Yan & Xiu, Yifan & Zhao, Mengyang & Tian, Ye & Wang, Jingyuan, 2024. "Intellectual property protection and enterprise innovation: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    20. Ke Mao & Pierre Failler, 2022. "Does Stronger Protection of Intellectual Property Improve Sustainable Development? Evidence from City Data in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, November.
    21. Yu, Zhichao & Kamran, Hafiz Waqas & Amin, Azka & Ahmed, Bilal & Peng, Sun, 2023. "Sustainable synergy via clean energy technologies and efficiency dynamics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    22. Casson, Mark C. & Della Giusta, Marina & Kambhampati, Uma S., 2010. "Formal and Informal Institutions and Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 137-141, February.
    23. Chau, Ka Yin & Moslehpour, Massoud & Tu, Yu-Te & Tai, Nguyen Tan & Tien, Nguyen Hoang & Huy, Pham Quang, 2022. "Exploring the impact of green energy and consumption on the sustainability of natural resources: Empirical evidence from G7 countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1241-1249.
    24. Udemba, Edmund Ntom & Tosun, Merve, 2022. "Moderating effect of institutional policies on energy and technology towards a better environment quality: A two dimensional approach to China's sustainable development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Malgouyres, Clément & Mayer, Thierry & Mazet-Sonilhac, Clément, 2021. "Technology-induced trade shocks? Evidence from broadband expansion in France," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    2. Casagrande, Dieison & Emanuel, Lucas & Freitas, Carlos & Lima, Alex & Nishimura, Fábio & Oliveira, Felipe, 2024. "Public food procurement and production: Evidence of the food acquisition program in Brazil," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    3. Zhong, Shen & Zhou, Zhicheng & Gao, Wei, 2025. "Impact of regional finance reform and innovation policies on green innovation in pilot cities: A quasi-natural experiment," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 888-911.
    4. Dmitry Arkhangelsky & Guido Imbens, 2023. "Causal Models for Longitudinal and Panel Data: A Survey," Papers 2311.15458, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2024.
    5. Fang Li, 2024. "Comprehensive intellectual property ability and firm productivity: A quasi-natural experiment based on national intellectual property demonstration advantage firm policy in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(4), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Simon Hartmann & Rok Spruk, 2023. "The impact of unilateral BIT terminations on FDI: Quasi-experimental evidence from India," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 259-296, April.
    7. Kong, Dongmin & Liu, Chenhao & Ye, Wenxu, 2023. "Randomized inspection and firm's government subsidies: A natural experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Niu, Geng & Jin, XiaoShu & Wang, Qi & Zhou, Yang, 2022. "Broadband infrastructure and digital financial inclusion in rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    9. Li, Tongxia & Ang, Tze Chuan ‘Chewie’ & Lu, Chun, 2023. "Employment protection and the provision of trade credit," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    10. Yuan, Huaxi & Zou, Longhui & Feng, Yidai, 2023. "How to achieve emission reduction without hindering economic growth? The role of judicial quality," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    11. Guo, Xue & Cheng, Aaron & Pavlou, Paul A., 2025. "Skill-biased technical change, again? Online gig platforms and local employment," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124538, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    12. Klaas Mulier & Mike Mariathasan & Ozan Guler & Andrea Caggese, 2022. "Firing Costs and Productivity: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Working Papers 1376, Barcelona School of Economics.
    13. Rosa, Leonardo & Bettinger, Eric & Carnoy, Martin & Dantas, Pedro, 2022. "The effects of public high school subsidies on student test scores," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    14. Beestermöller, Matthias, 2017. "Striking Evidence? Demand Persistence for Inter-City Buses from German Railway Strikes," Discussion Papers in Economics 31768, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    15. Zhang, Zibin & Yang, Wenxin & Ye, Jianliang, 2021. "Why sulfur dioxide emissions decline significantly from coal-fired power plants in China? Evidence from the desulfurated electricity pricing premium program," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PB).
    16. Costa-Font, Joan & Jiménez-Martín, Sergi & Vilaplana-Prieto, Cristina, 2022. "Do Public Caregiving Subsidies and Supports affect the Provision of Care and Transfers?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    17. Carpenter, Christopher S. & Churchill, Brandyn F. & Marcus, Michelle, 2023. "Bad lighting: Effects of youth indoor tanning prohibitions," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    18. Ashesh Rambachan & Jonathan Roth, 2020. "Design-Based Uncertainty for Quasi-Experiments," Papers 2008.00602, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2025.
    19. Cotti, Chad & Courtemanche, Charles & Maclean, Joanna Catherine & Nesson, Erik & Pesko, Michael F. & Tefft, Nathan W., 2022. "The effects of e-cigarette taxes on e-cigarette prices and tobacco product sales: Evidence from retail panel data," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    20. Dong, Zhanyu & Cai, Jiayi & Li, Xuchao & Luan, Mengna, 2025. "Firm-level impacts and recovery dynamics following a public health crisis: Lessons from China’s SARS experience," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:20:p:9213-:d:1773563. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.