School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221116, China.
School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2018 Mar;25(8):7454-7468. doi: 10.1007/s11356-017-1033-8. Epub 2017 Dec 26.
Based on the panel data model, data on environmental expenditures, the air quality index, economic aggregates, industrial structures, etc., of seven seriously polluted cities in China, from the period 2007-2015, were collected, and this paper estimates the general relationship between environmental expenditures and the air quality index. Besides, the impact of the fuel tax policy on air quality as well as on the relationship between environmental expenditure and the air quality index is tested using the method of regression discontinuity. We find that there is a long-term equilibrium relationship between environmental expenditure and air quality index as well as a 0.0507% positive effect of the former on the latter. Second, for Beijing, Taiyuan, Chongqing, and Lanzhou, a 1% increase in environmental expenditure leads to 0.0773, 0.0125, 0.0965, and 0.0912% decreases in the air quality index, respectively; however, for Shijiazhuang, Ji'nan, and Urumqi, effect of environmental expenditure on air quality is insignificant. Third, both economic growth and optimization of the industrial structure can lead to an improvement of air quality. Fourth, since the implementation of the fuel tax policy in 2009, the air quality of the sample cities has improved, and the pulling effect of environmental expenditure on the air quality index has decreased from 0.0507 to 0.0048%. Our findings cannot only clarify the effect of environmental expenditures on air quality but can also objectively judge the effectiveness of environmental policies of China to a certain extent. It may benefit Chinese government to effectively govern air pollution with fiscal tools in conjunction with economic and environmental characteristics.
基于面板数据模型，收集了 2007-2015 年中国 7 个严重污染城市的环境支出、空气质量指数、经济总量、产业结构等数据，估计了环境支出与空气质量指数之间的一般关系。此外，还利用回归不连续性方法检验了燃油税政策对空气质量以及环境支出与空气质量指数之间关系的影响。研究发现，环境支出与空气质量指数之间存在长期均衡关系，前者对后者有 0.0507%的正效应。其次，对于北京、太原、重庆和兰州，环境支出每增加 1%，空气质量指数分别下降 0.0773%、0.0125%、0.0965%和 0.0912%；然而，对于石家庄、济南和乌鲁木齐，环境支出对空气质量的影响并不显著。第三，经济增长和产业结构优化都可以改善空气质量。第四，自 2009 年实施燃油税政策以来，样本城市的空气质量有所改善，环境支出对空气质量指数的拉动作用从 0.0507%降至 0.0048%。我们的研究结果不仅可以澄清环境支出对空气质量的影响，而且可以在一定程度上客观地判断中国环境政策的有效性。中国政府可以结合经济和环境特点，有效地利用财政工具来治理空气污染。
