IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/ecopln/v58y2025i2d10.1007_s10644-025-09863-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can removing regional barriers reduce carbon emissions in border regions? Quasi-natural experiments from China

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaolin Yu

    (Zhejiang University of Technology)

  • Kai Wan

    (Hangzhou Dianzi University)

Abstract

Whether the removal of regional administrative barriers can effectively coordinate intergovernmental relations and promote green and low-carbon development in border areas has become an important issue. This paper uses data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2020 to scientifically identify administrative boundary areas at the township level. It employs a multi-period difference-in-differences approach to examine the impact of the county-to-district policy on carbon emissions in these boundary areas. Our study finds that abolishing county-level administrations and establishing districts significantly reduces carbon emissions in administrative border areas. This effect is achieved by reducing segmentation in both factor and commodity markets. Further analysis reveals that the “proactive adaptation” type of policy has a significant carbon emission reduction effect in administrative border areas. Additionally, the policy is more effective in areas with weaker local government intervention, in eastern regions, and at urban borders. From the perspective of regional integration, this paper explores new pathways to address carbon emission gaps at administrative boundaries, providing theoretical support for strengthening the county-to-district transition and offering new ideas for the governance of carbon emissions in administrative boundary regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaolin Yu & Kai Wan, 2025. "Can removing regional barriers reduce carbon emissions in border regions? Quasi-natural experiments from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 1-29, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:58:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10644-025-09863-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10644-025-09863-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10644-025-09863-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10644-025-09863-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qiao, Junfeng & Li, Yuan & Yu, Jie, 2024. "Administrative-led urbanization and urban carbon emission intensity: Evidence from city-county merger in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Hu, Qianlin & Mijit, Razia & Xu, Jingxuan & Miao, Shan, 2024. "Can government-led urban expansion simultaneously alleviate pollution and carbon emissions? Staggered difference-in-differences evidence from Chinese firms," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1-25.
    3. Simon Alder & Lin Shao & Fabrizio Zilibotti, 2016. "Economic reforms and industrial policy in a panel of Chinese cities," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 305-349, December.
    4. Duvivier, Chloé & Xiong, Hang, 2013. "Transboundary pollution in China: a study of polluting firms' location choices in Hebei province," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 459-483, August.
    5. Shasha Liu & Huixian Zhao & Gaowen Kong & Dongmin Kong, 2023. "Can the county to district reform in China restrain corporate earnings management? From the perspective of regional local protection," China Journal of Accounting Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 134-158, January.
    6. Jingxiang Zhang & Fulong Wu, 2006. "China's changing economic governance: Administrative annexation and the reorganization of local governments in the Yangtze River Delta," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 3-21.
    7. Chang-Tai Hsieh & Peter J. Klenow, 2009. "Misallocation and Manufacturing TFP in China and India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 124(4), pages 1403-1448.
    8. David C. Parsley & Shang-Jin Wei, 1996. "Convergence to the Law of One Price Without Trade Barriers or Currency Fluctuations," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 111(4), pages 1211-1236.
    9. Wernsdorf, Kathrin & Nagler, Markus & Watzinger, Martin, 2022. "ICT, collaboration, and innovation: Evidence from BITNET," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    10. Han, Yi & Wu, Mingqin, 2024. "Inter-regional barriers and economic growth: Evidence from China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    11. Hal R. Varian, 2010. "Computer Mediated Transactions," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 1-10, May.
    12. Pan, Dan & Chen, Huan, 2021. "Border pollution reduction in China: The role of livestock environmental regulations," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    13. Sun, Liyang & Abraham, Sarah, 2021. "Estimating dynamic treatment effects in event studies with heterogeneous treatment effects," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 225(2), pages 175-199.
    14. Yuanchao Bian & Kaiyi Song & Junhong Bai, 2021. "Impact of Chinese market segmentation on regional collaborative governance of environmental pollution: A new approach to complex system theory," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(1), pages 283-309, March.
    15. Bai, Chong-En & Du, Yingjuan & Tao, Zhigang & Tong, Sarah Y., 2004. "Local protectionism and regional specialization: evidence from China's industries," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 397-417, July.
    16. Cui, Liyuan & Chen, Zeyu & Huang, Yanfen & Yu, Huayi, 2024. "Window dressing: Changes in atmospheric pollution at boundaries in response to regional environmental policy in China," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    17. Yu, Xuewei & Wang, Qiao, 2024. "County-to-district reform and "smart growth": The perspective of urban spatial expansion," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    18. Sule Alan & Seda Ertac & Ipek Mumcu, 2018. "Gender Stereotypes in the Classroom and Effects on Achievement," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 100(5), pages 876-890, December.
    19. Xiuyan Liu & Jiangnan Zeng & Qiyao Zhou, 2019. "The chosen fortunate in the urbanization process in China? Evidence from a geographic regression discontinuity study," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(4), pages 1768-1787, November.
    20. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," NBER Working Papers 7828, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    21. Li, Jianglong & Lin, Boqiang, 2017. "Does energy and CO2 emissions performance of China benefit from regional integration?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 366-378.
    22. Feng, Rundong & Wang, Kaiyong, 2021. "Spatiotemporal effects of administrative division adjustment on urban expansion in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    23. Yu, Weihua & Liang, Wenjing & Yao, Xin, 2024. "The effect of the county-to-district conversion policy on energy efficiency of enterprises: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    24. Yongpei Wang & Jieru Yang & Jinwei Chen & Qian Zhang, 2022. "Environmental pollution and population distribution among districts and counties: Evidence from prefecture-level cities in China," Energy & Environment, , vol. 33(7), pages 1346-1368, November.
    25. Alwyn Young, 2000. "The Razor's Edge: Distortions and Incremental Reform in the People's Republic of China," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(4), pages 1091-1135.
    26. Sihan Zhang & Ming‐ang Zhang & Weizeng Sun, 2022. "Administrative Division Adjustment and Housing Price Comovement: Evidence from City‐County Mergers in China," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 30(4), pages 149-173, July.
    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. Yu, Xuewei & Wang, Qiao, 2024. "County-to-district reform and "smart growth": The perspective of urban spatial expansion," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    2. Laiqun Jin & Xiuyan Liu & Sam Hak Kan Tang, 2021. "High-Technology Zones, Misallocation of Resources among Cities and Aggregate Productivity: Evidence from China," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 21-11, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    3. Shawn Xiaoguang Chen & Yudan Cheng & Liutang Gong & Wenjia Tian, 2023. "A Big Push of Panda from the Ground: Land Subsidy and Structural Transformation in China," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 23-09, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    4. Cui, Yi, 2024. "Place-based policies and capital misallocation: Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 48(4).
    5. Zheng, Yilin & Lu, Ming & Li, Jiewei, 2022. "Internal circulation in China: Analyzing market segmentation and integration using big data for truck traffic flow," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    6. Berkowitz, Daniel & Nishioka, Shuichiro, 2024. "The growth of firms, markets and rents: Evidence from China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 383-399.
    7. Tian, Wenjia & Wang, Zhi & Zhang, Qinghua, 2024. "Land allocation and industrial agglomeration: Evidence from the 2007 reform in China," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    8. Markus Eberhardt & Zheng Wang & Zhihong Yu, 2013. "Intra-National Protectionism in China: Evidence from the Public Disclosure of ‘Illegal’ Drug Advertising," Discussion Papers 2013-04, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    9. Xinyu Hou & Puyang Sun, 2023. "The impact of dismantling state monopoly on market integration: Evidence from the edible salt reform in China," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 589-609, July.
    10. Ng, Travis & Yu, Linhui, 2014. "Which types of institutions hinder productivity among private manufacturing firms in China?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 17-31.
    11. Eberhardt, Markus & Wang, Zheng & Yu, Zhihong, 2016. "From one to many central plans: Drug advertising inspections and intra-national protectionism in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 608-622.
    12. Jeffrey S. Zax & Yin He, 2016. "The Law Of One Price In Chinese Factor Markets," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 61(04), pages 1-31, September.
    13. Bo, Shiyu, 2020. "Centralization and regional development: Evidence from a political hierarchy reform to create cities in china," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    14. Rudai Yang & Canfei He, 2014. "The productivity puzzle of Chinese exporters: Perspectives of local protection and spillover effects," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(2), pages 367-384, June.
    15. Long, Cheryl & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2011. "Cluster-based industrialization in China: Financing and performance," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 112-123, May.
    16. Ke, Shanzi, 2015. "Domestic Market Integration and Regional Economic Growth—China’s Recent Experience from 1995–2011," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 588-597.
    17. Xuebing Dong & Benbo Liang & Haichao Yu & Hui Zhu, 2023. "Market Segmentation and Green Development Performance: Evidence from Chinese Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-24, March.
    18. Huiying Luo & Xiaohui Liu & Aiqi Wu & Xiaotong Zhong, 2021. "Is it possible to escape? Local protectionism and outward foreign direct investment by Chinese privately-owned enterprises," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 1499-1524, December.
    19. Shiuh‐Shen Chien, 2008. "Local Responses To Globalization In China: A Territorial Restructuring Process Perspective," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 492-517, October.
    20. Zheng LU & Xiang DENG, 2017. "Regional Specialization: New Methods Of Measurement And The Trends In China 1987-2007," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 17(2), pages 119-134.

    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:kap:ecopln:v:58:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10644-025-09863-6. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.