{"title":"More incentive, less pollution: The influence of official appraisal system reform on environmental enforcement","authors":"Jin Guan , Dongwei He , Qigui Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.reseneeco.2021.101283","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper sheds light on the effectiveness of a target-based performance evaluation system (TPES) on strenghening local environmental enforcement in China. We conduct a difference-in-differences (DiD) specification and then exploit unique firm-level data to examine whether the TPES reform facilitates SO<sub>2</sub> reductions in local firms. The results indicate that SO<sub>2</sub><span> emissions from local polluting firms have been significantly reduced both in extensive and intensive margins. We also find that local environmental enforcement has been comprehensively enhanced across industries and larger private and joint-equity firms are relatively more regulated. Furthermore, local firms respond to this reform mainly by using the end-of-pipe treatment and upgrading the much cleaner production process rather than reducing the production over the period.</span></p></div>","PeriodicalId":47952,"journal":{"name":"Resource and Energy Economics","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 101283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2022-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"5","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Resource and Energy Economics","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928765521000683","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ECONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 5
Abstract
This paper sheds light on the effectiveness of a target-based performance evaluation system (TPES) on strenghening local environmental enforcement in China. We conduct a difference-in-differences (DiD) specification and then exploit unique firm-level data to examine whether the TPES reform facilitates SO2 reductions in local firms. The results indicate that SO2 emissions from local polluting firms have been significantly reduced both in extensive and intensive margins. We also find that local environmental enforcement has been comprehensively enhanced across industries and larger private and joint-equity firms are relatively more regulated. Furthermore, local firms respond to this reform mainly by using the end-of-pipe treatment and upgrading the much cleaner production process rather than reducing the production over the period.
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.