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How Does the “Civilized City” Selection Affect Environmental Governance Performance? A Spatial DID Approach Based on Prefecture-Level Cities

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  • Weixing Ou

    (School of Civil Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China
    Hunan Academy of Education Sciences, Changsha 410016, China)

  • Ruirui Yang

    (School of Mathematics and Statistics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China)

  • Wanhai You

    (School of Economics and Management, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China)

Abstract

Our study employs panel data from 272 Chinese prefecture-level cities (2003–2020), leveraging the “Civilized City” selection campaign as a quasi-natural experiment. Using a Spatial Durbin Difference-in-Differences model, we systematically analyze the policy’s impact on local environmental governance performance and its spatial spillover effects, with rigorous robustness checks. Results reveal a significant positive spatial correlation in China’s environmental governance performance, indicating interdependence among cities rather than isolated decision-making. The “Civilized City” initiative not only improves local environmental governance but also generates spillover benefits for neighboring regions, thereby enhancing coordinated regional sustainability. Finally, we propose policy recommendations grounded in empirical findings and China’s governance context.

Suggested Citation

  • Weixing Ou & Ruirui Yang & Wanhai You, 2025. "How Does the “Civilized City” Selection Affect Environmental Governance Performance? A Spatial DID Approach Based on Prefecture-Level Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3812-:d:1640843
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