The interaction effect between public environmental concern and air pollution: Evidence from China. (10th March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yu, Chenyang; Long, Hongyu; Zhang, Xiang; Tan, Yuanfang; Zhou, Yu; Zang, Chuanxiang; Tu, Chenglin
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 391(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03-10
• Subjects: Public environmental concern -- Air pollution -- Spatial panel simultaneous equation approach -- Interaction effect -- Mechanism analysis; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Prior studies have explored the relationship between public environmental concerns and air pollution, but the interaction effects and spatial factors under a systematic framework have been ignored. This paper investigates the interaction effect between public environmental concern and air pollution, moreover, a spatial panel simultaneous equation approach is employed to reduce the endogenous interference and the potential impact of spatial factors. Based on the balanced panel data of 269 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2017, we find that a 1% increase in public environmental concern will lead to a 0.049% decrease in PM2.5 concentration, while a 1% increase in PM2.5 concentration will lead to a 1.398% increase in public environmental concern. Meanwhile, there is a significantly spatial spillover effect of both public environmental concern and air pollution to the surrounding areas. Furthermore, our findings suggest that public environmental concern reduces air pollution by promoting government environmental regulation, and air pollution promotes public environmental concern by threatening the health of the residents. In addition, the results of heterogeneity analysis show that the interaction effect of public environment on air pollution significantly differs across regions with different heating characteristics and economic development levels. Practicable policies to promote favorable feedback on public environmental concern and air pollution are suggested.