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Economic growth and particulate pollution concentrations in China

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  • Stern, David I.
  • Zha, Donglan

Abstract

Though the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) was originally developed to model the ambient concentrations of pollutants, most subsequent applications have focused on pollution emissions. Yet, it seems more likely that economic growth could eventually reduce the concentrations of local pollutants than emissions. We examine the role of income, convergence, and time related factors in explaining recent changes in PM 2.5 and PM 10 particulate pollution in 50 Chinese cities using new measures of ambient air quality that the Chinese government has published only since the beginning of 2013. We use a recently developed model that relates the rate of change of pollution to the growth of the economy and other factors as well as the traditional environmental Kuznets curve model. Pollution fell sharply from 2013 to 2014. We show that economic growth, convergence, and time effects all served to lower the level of pollution. The results also demonstrate the relationship between the two modeling approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Stern, David I. & Zha, Donglan, 2016. "Economic growth and particulate pollution concentrations in China," Working Papers 249522, Australian National University, Centre for Climate Economics & Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ancewp:249522
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.249522
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    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Economic Growth and Particulate Pollution Concentrations in China
      by noreply@blogger.com (David Stern) in Stochastic Trend on 2016-02-25 12:00:00
    2. Mid-Year Update
      by noreply@blogger.com (David Stern) in Stochastic Trend on 2016-06-01 08:40:00
    3. Missing Coefficient in Environmental Economics and Policy Studies Paper
      by noreply@blogger.com (David Stern) in Stochastic Trend on 2016-08-10 08:32:00
    4. Annual Review 2016
      by noreply@blogger.com (David Stern) in Stochastic Trend on 2016-12-26 17:08:00
    5. Annual Review 2017
      by noreply@blogger.com (David Stern) in Stochastic Trend on 2017-12-28 02:26:00

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David I. Stern & Jeremy Dijk, 2017. "Economic growth and global particulate pollution concentrations," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 142(3), pages 391-406, June.
    2. Jian Hou & Yifang An & Hongfeng Song & Jiancheng Chen, 2019. "The Impact of Haze Pollution on Regional Eco-Economic Treatment Efficiency in China: An Environmental Regulation Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Alexandra-Anca Purcel, 2020. "New insights into the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in developing and transition economies: a literature survey," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 22(4), pages 585-631, October.
    4. Jian-Xin Wu & Ling-Yun He & ZhongXiang Zhang, 2019. "Does China Fall into Poverty-Environment Traps? Evidence from Long-term Income Dynamics and Urban Air Pollution," Working Papers 2019.05, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    5. D. Jingyuan I. & L. Chong I. & L. Marsiliani & D. Jingyuan I. & L. Chong I. & L. Marsiliani, 2018. "Взаимосвязь между экономическим ростом и окружающей средой в Пекине на основе показателя PM2.5 // The Relationship between Growth and the Environment in Beijing, Using PM2.5 Concentrations," Review of Business and Economics Studies // Review of Business and Economics Studies, Финансовый Университет // Financial University, vol. 6(2), pages 5-18.
    6. Hongbo Liu & Hanho Kim & Justin Choe, 2019. "Export diversification, CO2 emissions and EKC: panel data analysis of 125 countries," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 361-393, June.
    7. Haider Mahmood & Maham Furqan & Muhammad Shahid Hassan & Soumen Rej, 2023. "The Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) Hypothesis in China: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-32, April.
    8. Wu, Jian-Xin & He, Ling-Yun & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2022. "On the co-evolution of PM2.5 concentrations and income in China: A joint distribution dynamics approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    9. Hongbo Liu & Hanho Kim & Shuanglu Liang & Oh-Sang Kwon, 2018. "Export Diversification and Ecological Footprint: A Comparative Study on EKC Theory among Korea, Japan, and China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-12, October.
    10. Maralgua Och, 2017. "Empirical Investigation of the Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis for Nitrous Oxide Emissions for Mongolia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 117-128.
    11. Zhimin Zhou, 2019. "The Underground Economy and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental Economics and Policy;

    JEL classification:

    • O44 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Environment and Growth
    • P28 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Natural Resources; Environment
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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