Propensity to Migrate and Willingness to Pay Related to Air Pollution among Different Populations in Wuhan, China

Abstract

Objective: To understand parents' propensity to migrate and willingness to pay with respect to outdoor air pollution, and to explore related affecting factors.Methods: This study used a convenience sample and subjects were collected from a community in Wuchang District and Children's Hospital of Wuhan, respectively. A designed questionnaire was used for this study. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between parents' individual and familial characteristics and related behavioral intensions to air quality improvement. Statistical analysis was done with SAS 9.1.Results: The questionnaire was completed by 865 subjects (response rate = 86.5%). The number of people with migrant intent was 150(36.4%) from hospital group, and 139(30.7%) from community group. In the hospital group, subjects with higher knowledge of air quality (OR = 6.268, p < 0.05) and higher average annual household income (AAHI), which was equal or more than 50,000 Yuan (OR = 2.045, p < 0.01), were found to be more intent to migrate. AAHI (OR = 1.939, p < 0.05) was also the affecting factor in the community group correspondingly. Those willing to pay for air quality improvement included 297 people (72.1%) from the hospital group and 333 people (73.5%) from the community group, and affecting factors was the public responsibility for air quality improvement (hospital group: OR = 3.380, p < 0.01; community group: OR = 4.436, p < 0.01).Conclusions: This study indicated high tendency of propensity to migrate for avoiding poor air condition and willingness to pay to improve air quality in Wuhan. Local governments should pay more attention to parents' knowledge of air pollution and attitudes towards government management of air quality, especially those willing to migrate.

Short-Term Effect of Air Pollution on Tuberculosis Based on Kriged Data: A Time-Series Analysis

“…However, its urbanization and industrialization have exposed local residents to a high level of air pollution. For example, the annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Wuhan was 106.5 μg/m 3 as of 2017, which was significantly higher than that of other cities with similar economic development levels [27]. Figure 1 shows the geographical location of Wuhan, provincially-designated air sampling stations, and population by administrative districts.…”

“…Wuhan has 13 administrative districts. As of 2014, Wuhan's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita reached 15.6 thousand U.S. dollars, making it one of the fastest growing cities in China [27]. However, its urbanization and industrialization have exposed local residents to a high level of air pollution.…”

“…Figure 1 shows the geographical location of Wuhan, provincially-designated air sampling stations, and population by administrative districts. [27]. However, its urbanization and industrialization have exposed local residents to a high level of air pollution.…”

Households’ Relocation Decision in Air Pollution Context of Cotonou

“…Hunter (2005) discovered that the environmental hazard influences the decision of residential migration. Chu and al., (2017), interested in understanding parents' propensity to migrate and their willingness to pay to have a quality environment, use a multivariate logistic model of data collected from a community in the Wuchang region. These authors find that the potential migrants are hospitalized (36.4%) on the one hand and part of the community (30.7%) on the other hand; particularly those with the highest average annual income (50,000 Yuan) and with a high level of knowledge of air quality issues among hospital patients.…”

A Questionnaire Case Study of Chinese Opinions on the Haze Pollution and Economic Growth

“…(3) public awareness of smog pollution in China [12][13][14][15][16]; (4) the public's willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing or tracking haze pollution [17][18][19][20][21][22]; (5) the public's adaptive behavior responses to haze pollution in urban China [23,24]; (6) personal protection strategies from haze pollution [23,25]; and (7) consumers' purchase intentions related to products that deal with haze pollution [26].…”