Effects of Imports and Exports on China's PM2.5 Pollution

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of imports and exports on China's PM2.5 pollution using data from 31 provinces during the period 2001–2016. At the aggregate level, our analysis shows that exports have a pollution‐generating effect while imports have a pollution‐shifting effect on provincial PM2.5 pollution. Cross‐sectional analysis reveals that imports and exports exhibit opposite effects on manufacturing and high‐tech industries, but demonstrate the same pollution‐generating effect for the heavy industry sector. At the regional level, the effects are similar to those at the aggregate level. We also examine the impacts of other factors on PM2.5 pollution. Our empirical evidence shows that PM2.5 pollution is positively correlated with domestic sales, population density, economic growth, urbanization rate, and transportation, but negatively correlated with energy efficiency and industry structure. This paper suggests that reducing exports and increasing imports will help to reduce PM2.5 pollution.

The Environmental Consequences of Place‐Based Policies in China: An Empirical Study Based on SO2 Emission Data

“…Gaigné et al (2012) confi rmed that when the intercity and intra-urban distributions of activities were given, a higher population density made cities more environmentally friendly. Similarly, Li et al (2020) also showed a positive relationship between population density and pollution using provincial data during the period 2001-2016 in China. Moreover, Glaeser and Kahn (2010), in the US, found that the areas with the lowest emissions were generally in California and that the areas with the highest emissions were in Texas and Oklahoma.…”

Relationship Between Energy Consumption and Industrial Output-Based on GMM Model of Dynamic Panel Data in China

“…Energy is the "food" of industry and an important material basis for economic development [1][2]. In the short term, under the constraints of world energy supply and demand and ecological environment, the change of energy structure can not only inhibit economic growth but also promote economic growth [3][4]. Therefore, the correct analysis of the relationship between energy consumption and industrial output has important theoretical and practical significance for the rational use of energy and sustained and stable economic growth.…”