Qiu Heshu
Xinyang Normal University, Business School, Xinyang, 464000, China.
Reserch Institute of the Economic and Social Development in the dabie Mountains, Xinyang, 464000, China.
Heliyon. 2024 Aug 10;10(17):e35891. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35891. eCollection 2024 Sep 15.
This study investigates the environmental consequences of China's mineral wealth and governance within the framework of the natural resource curse. The natural resource curse posits that countries rich in natural resources often experience less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. This phenomenon is particularly relevant for China, which has experienced significant mineral wealth since the 1990s. The primary aim of this research is to assess how China's mineral wealth and governance structures have influenced environmental outcomes from 1990 to 2022, using an econometric model. The results reveal three key findings: First, regions with higher mineral wealth have experienced more severe environmental degradation, particularly in terms of air and water pollution. Second, governance quality plays a critical role in moderating these effects, with better governance associated with less environmental harm. Third, economic growth driven by mineral wealth does not necessarily translate into improved environmental conditions, highlighting a disconnect between economic and environmental objectives. The policy implication is clear: to mitigate the environmental consequences of mineral wealth, China must strengthen its governance mechanisms and integrate environmental considerations into its resource management strategies.
本研究在自然资源诅咒的框架内，探讨了中国矿产财富与治理的环境后果。自然资源诅咒认为，自然资源丰富的国家往往比自然资源较少的国家经历更少的经济增长和更差的发展成果。这种现象对中国尤为相关，自20世纪90年代以来，中国经历了显著的矿产财富增长。本研究的主要目的是使用计量经济学模型，评估1990年至2022年期间中国的矿产财富和治理结构如何影响环境结果。研究结果揭示了三个关键发现：第一，矿产财富较高的地区经历了更严重的环境退化，特别是在空气污染和水污染方面。第二，治理质量在缓和这些影响方面起着关键作用，治理越好，对环境的危害越小。第三，矿产财富驱动的经济增长不一定转化为环境条件的改善，这凸显了经济目标与环境目标之间的脱节。政策含义很明确：为了减轻矿产财富带来的环境后果，中国必须加强其治理机制，并将环境考虑因素纳入其资源管理战略。
