Dynamics of China's regional development and pollution: an investigation into the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Abstract

ABSTRACT. This paper addresses the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve for China, using a sample of 30 regions, covering the period 1982-1997. The types of pollution included are wastewater, waste gas, and solid waste. We consider the development of the sources of pollution in a pooled cross-section analysis with pollution in absolute levels, in per capita terms, and relative to real Gross Regional Product (GRP). At intermediate levels of GRP per capita, the increase of solid and gas emissions tends to decelerate, but it accelerates again at high levels of GRP per capita. Water pollution decreases with per capita GRP. We also predict future waste gas emissions.

Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Pollution: New Evidence from China

“…De Groot et al (2004) used the sample of 30 regions from 1982-1997 in China to discuss the impact of economic growth on three different types of pollution, they concluded that the relationship between wastewater (waste gas, solid waste) and per capita GDP displays negative (positive, constant). However, Song et al (2008) concluded that the relationship between pollution and per capita GDP is inverted U-shape pattern which is uncorrelated with types of pollution.…”

Does FDI Bring Environmental Knowledge Spillovers to Developing Countries? The Role of the Local Industrial Structure

“…By contrast, soot and dust (SOOT) originate from a relatively large variety of industries. We use these polluters as our environmental indicators because they can better reflect the environmental impact of rapid industrialisation and urbanisation that has taken place in China over the last 20 years (Cole et al 2011;De Groot et al 2004;He et al 2014). The official data are also available for a reasonably long period at the city level to allow the use of panel analysis and to control for unobserved heterogeneity across regions.…”

“…We also include cities' total trade (import and export) to control for their openness (Copeland and Taylor 2004;Dean et al 2009). We expect that cities with higher environmental stringency, better interconnectedness, and stronger technological capabilities have low yields of pollution intensity (De Groot et al 2004;Zhang and Fu 2008).…”

“…By contrast, SO 2 is generated mainly from only a few sources, such as burning sulphur-intensive fuels and mining activities. The technologies to reduce SO 2 emissions are relatively easier to implement by adopting 'end-of-pipe' techniques to retain the sulphur content or by switching to lower sulphur fuels (De Groot et al 2004;Zhang and Fu 2008). For example, this can be achieved by closing down mines or power stations or shutting down small-scale glass, cement and oil-refining factories in certain areas in China (Cole et al 2008).…”

Environmental Pollution and Economic Growth in China: A Test of the Environmental Kuznets Curve

“…Groot et al [7] estimated EKCs for emissions or discharges of waste gas, waste water, and industrial solid wastes using provincial panel data from 1982 to 1997. They found that the emission-income relation depends on the type of pollutants and on how the dependent variable is constructed.…”