The underlying drivers of environmental pollution: the role of semi-urbanization

ABSTRACT

Assessing the impact of the driving forces on environmental pollution has a significant theoretical value for the construction of high-quality economic development. However, to our knowledge, no past study considers how semi-urbanization impacts the environment. This study provides empirical evidence on environmental pollution in China from the perspective of semi-urbanization. Also, the underlying mechanisms of semi-urbanization affecting environmental pollution are explored. The estimation results indicate that semi-urbanization shows prominent spatial agglomeration. We also observed that semi-urbanization in China can achieve a meaningful reduction of environmental pollution. Further, semi-urbanization negatively influences environmental pollution in the local region, but it contributes to environmental pollution growth in neighboring regions. In numerical terms, for every 1% rise in semi-urbanization of the province leads to a decrease in $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_2$ emissions by around 0.19% locally and by around 0.30% in neighboring regions; every 1% rise in semi-urbanization of the province decrease SW emissions by around 0.28% locally and increase by around 0.29% in neighboring regions. The investigation above helps policymakers to formulate effective emission reduction policies for realizing the “win-win” situation of promoting semi-urbanization and curbing environmental pollution.

KEYWORDS:

• Semi-urbanization
• environmental pollution
• spatial effects
• spatial econometric techniques
• China

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71834003).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71834003].

Notes on contributors

Xing Wang

Xing Wang is currently a associate professor at School of Economics and Management, Anhui Agricultural University.

Dequn Zhou

Dequn Zhou is currently a full professor at School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.