Environmental regulatory policies and local air quality: Evidence from a comparison of environmental policy effects in China

IF 9.7 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Journal of Cleaner Production Pub Date : 2025-06-03 DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.145906

Linyan Fan, Sheng Yao, Cheng Zhou, Clare Richardson-Barlow

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Abstract

In response to escalating air pollution challenges, implemented stricter environmental regulations. It is very important to analyze the effectiveness of different policies as well as the validity of their mechanisms. This study evaluates the effectiveness and mechanisms of three key policies: the Environmental Protection Vertical Reform (EPVR), Environmental Protection Administrative Interviews (EPAI), and Central Environmental Protection Inspection (CEPI). Utilizing panel data from prefecture-level cities across China from 2008 to 2021, we apply a difference-in-differences (DID) model to assess the governance efficacy of these policies. Our findings indicate that all three policies significantly mitigate air pollution, with the CEPI policy demonstrating the most substantial impact, particularly in the eastern regions and heavily polluted industrial areas. Additionally, we discover that the effectiveness of the CEPI policy in reducing air pollution is enhanced by increased intensity of environmental regulation. This study underscores the CEPI policy’s effectiveness in local air governance and offers new insights and empirical evidence supporting the refinement of environmental regulatory frameworks.

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环境监管政策与当地空气质量：来自中国环境政策效果比较的证据

为应对日益严重的空气污染挑战，实施了更严格的环境法规。分析不同政策的有效性及其机制的有效性是非常重要的。本文对环境保护纵向改革（EPVR）、环境保护行政约谈（EPAI）和中央环境保护督察（CEPI）三项关键政策的有效性和机制进行了评估。利用2008年至2021年中国地级市的面板数据，我们采用差异中的差异（DID）模型来评估这些政策的治理效果。我们的研究结果表明，这三项政策都显著缓解了空气污染，其中CEPI政策的效果最为显著，特别是在东部地区和污染严重的工业区。此外，我们发现CEPI政策在减少空气污染方面的有效性随着环境监管力度的增加而增强。本研究强调了CEPI政策在地方空气治理中的有效性，并为完善环境监管框架提供了新的见解和经验证据。

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

Journal of Cleaner Production 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.40

自引率

9.00%

发文量

4720

审稿时长

111 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Cleaner Production is an international, transdisciplinary journal that addresses and discusses theoretical and practical Cleaner Production, Environmental, and Sustainability issues. It aims to help societies become more sustainable by focusing on the concept of 'Cleaner Production', which aims at preventing waste production and increasing efficiencies in energy, water, resources, and human capital use. The journal serves as a platform for corporations, governments, education institutions, regions, and societies to engage in discussions and research related to Cleaner Production, environmental, and sustainability practices.