Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China

This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for haze in 31 cities and provinces across China using the spatial data for a period of 15 years, from 2000 to 2014. We utilized the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to consider the spatial non-stationary characteristics of...

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Main Authors: Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad, Kim, Yoomi, Yue, Long
Format: Article
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/101976/
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author Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad
Kim, Yoomi
Yue, Long
author_facet Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad
Kim, Yoomi
Yue, Long
author_sort Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for haze in 31 cities and provinces across China using the spatial data for a period of 15 years, from 2000 to 2014. We utilized the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to consider the spatial non-stationary characteristics of the air quality in a vast territory. This approach allowed us to verify the region-specific characteristics, while the global model estimated the average relationship across the entire nation. Although the EKC for haze was statistically significant in the global models, the results only confirmed the existence of an EKC between the overall air quality and economic performance. Thus, it was difficult to determine the regional differences in an EKC. The results of the GWR model found the spatial variability of each variable and showed significant spatial heterogeneity in the EKC across regions. Although six regions—Beijing, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xinjiang, and Zhejiang—showed inverted U-shaped EKCs, these were only statistically significant in three big cities—Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The results demonstrated no EKCs in the other 25 provinces and cities. These results provide strong empirical evidence that there is significant spatial heterogeneity in the EKC of China. Thus, a more regionally specialized air pollution control policy is required to create an effective policy for balanced economic growth in China.
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spelling upm-1019762023-06-16T20:29:38Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/101976/ Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad Kim, Yoomi Yue, Long This study investigates the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) for haze in 31 cities and provinces across China using the spatial data for a period of 15 years, from 2000 to 2014. We utilized the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to consider the spatial non-stationary characteristics of the air quality in a vast territory. This approach allowed us to verify the region-specific characteristics, while the global model estimated the average relationship across the entire nation. Although the EKC for haze was statistically significant in the global models, the results only confirmed the existence of an EKC between the overall air quality and economic performance. Thus, it was difficult to determine the regional differences in an EKC. The results of the GWR model found the spatial variability of each variable and showed significant spatial heterogeneity in the EKC across regions. Although six regions—Beijing, Gansu, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Shanghai, Tianjin, Xinjiang, and Zhejiang—showed inverted U-shaped EKCs, these were only statistically significant in three big cities—Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. The results demonstrated no EKCs in the other 25 provinces and cities. These results provide strong empirical evidence that there is significant spatial heterogeneity in the EKC of China. Thus, a more regionally specialized air pollution control policy is required to create an effective policy for balanced economic growth in China. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022-05-14 Article PeerReviewed Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad and Kim, Yoomi and Yue, Long (2022) Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China. Atmosphere, 13 (5). art. no. 806. pp. 1-11. ISSN 2073-4433 https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/13/5/806 10.3390/atmos13050806
spellingShingle Abdul Rahim, Abdul Samad
Kim, Yoomi
Yue, Long
Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title_full Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title_fullStr Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title_full_unstemmed Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title_short Investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental Kuznets curve for haze pollution in China
title_sort investigating spatial heterogeneity of the environmental kuznets curve for haze pollution in china
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/101976/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/101976/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/101976/