IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jknowl/v16y2025i2d10.1007_s13132-024-01800-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Navigating Environmental Governance in China’s Hog Sector: Unraveling the “Race to the Bottom” Phenomenon and Spatial Dynamics

Author

Listed:
  • Xue Zheng

    (South China Agricultural University)

  • Ying Tan

    (South China Agricultural University)

  • Dasheng Li

    (South China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Environmental pollution in China, especially water pollution stemming from livestock and poultry manure, remains a critical challenge. This study delves into the complexities of the hog sector, exploring the “race to the bottom” phenomenon in environmental regulation among provinces. Focusing on the Pearl River Basin, spatial econometric models are employed to analyze the impact of environmental regulations on hog production in border counties from 2010 to 2017. Contrary to conventional assumptions, the study reveals a concentration of hog production in provincial border counties, challenging prior research. The “race to the bottom” strategy is identified, indicating inefficient environmental regulation efforts. Water quality data supports the finding that border county governments prioritize economic development over pollution control. Theoretical implications of the study underscore the need to shift the focus from industrial to agricultural environmental regulation, offering a novel perspective on the “symbolic implementation” of regulations in administrative border areas. The spatial analyses reveal previously understudied correlations, deepening our understanding of the spatial dimensions of environmental regulation. The findings contribute to a more comprehensive grasp of knowledge dynamics in environmental governance, spanning organizations, industries, nations, and regions. Policy implications highlight the identification of “pollution havens” and the importance of coordinated inter-regional efforts in environmental governance. The study calls for a reassessment of the “race to the bottom” phenomenon, urging policymakers to prioritize substantive compliance over symbolic gestures. Additionally, the research emphasizes the need to fine-tune monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for environmental regulations within the agricultural sector to ensure tangible improvements in environmental quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Xue Zheng & Ying Tan & Dasheng Li, 2025. "Navigating Environmental Governance in China’s Hog Sector: Unraveling the “Race to the Bottom” Phenomenon and Spatial Dynamics," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 6765-6802, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jknowl:v:16:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s13132-024-01800-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s13132-024-01800-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s13132-024-01800-8
    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/s13132-024-01800-8?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.

    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:spr:jknowl:v:16:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s13132-024-01800-8. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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.