The role of bureaucratic incentives in the effectiveness of environmental regulations: Evidence from China

IF 2.6 3区经济学 Q1 ECONOMICS

Resource and Energy Economics Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.reseneeco.2024.101474

Haowei Yu , Guanglai Zhang , Ning Zhang

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Abstract

The Key Cities for Air Pollution Control (KCAPC) program is one of China’s earliest and most important target-based environmental policies, launched in 2002 to address the country’s severe air pollution issue. However, the effectiveness of the program is still largely unknown. This paper examines the impact of the KCAPC program on sulfur dioxide (SO

_{2}

) emissions, with an emphasis on the role of bureaucratic incentives. We find that the program reduced SO

_{2}

emissions by 12.19%–13.84% at the city level and by 11.22%–13.50% at the firm level. We also find that local governments shut down highly polluting firms, promoted greener production and enhanced environmental regulation in order to meet environmental targets set by the program. However, we find that the KCAPC program was only effective in cities where the mayor has a promotion incentive and is not incentivized to collude with polluting firms. Our findings point to the importance of bureaucratic incentives in governing the effectiveness of environmental regulations in localities.

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官僚激励在环境法规有效性中的作用：来自中国的证据

大气污染控制重点城市（KCAPC）计划是中国最早也是最重要的以目标为基础的环境政策之一，于2002年启动，旨在解决该国严重的空气污染问题。然而，该计划的有效性在很大程度上仍然是未知的。本文考察了KCAPC计划对二氧化硫（SO2）排放的影响，重点是官僚激励的作用。我们发现，该计划在城市层面减少了12.19%-13.84%的二氧化硫排放量，在企业层面减少了11.22%-13.50%。我们还发现，地方政府关闭了高污染企业，促进了绿色生产，加强了环境监管，以实现该计划设定的环境目标。然而，我们发现KCAPC计划仅在市长有晋升激励且不鼓励与污染企业勾结的城市有效。我们的研究结果指出了官僚激励在地方环境法规有效性管理中的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Resource and Energy Economics Multiple-

CiteScore

5.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Resource and Energy Economics provides a forum for high level economic analysis of utilization and development of the earth natural resources. The subject matter encompasses questions of optimal production and consumption affecting energy, minerals, land, air and water, and includes analysis of firm and industry behavior, environmental issues and public policies. Implications for both developed and developing countries are of concern. The journal publishes high quality papers for an international audience. Innovative energy, resource and environmental analyses, including theoretical models and empirical studies are appropriate for publication in Resource and Energy Economics.