Impacts of Industrial Restructuring and Technological Progress on PM_2.5 Pollution: Evidence from Prefecture-Level Cities in China

• Main Authors: Ning Xu, Fan Zhang, Xin Xuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: PM_2.5 pollution; industrial restructuring; technological progress; spatial dynamic panel model; prefecture-level cities
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5283
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

PM_2.5 pollution has produced adverse effects all over the world, especially in fast-developing China. PM_2.5 pollution in China is widespread and serious, which has aroused widespread concern of the government, the public and scholars. This paper evaluates the evolution trend and spatial pattern of PM_2.5 pollution in China based on the data of 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2007 to 2017, and reveals the pollution situation of PM_2.5 and its relationship with industrial restructuring and technological progress by using spatial dynamic panel model. The results show that China’s PM_2.5 pollution has significant path dependence and spatial correlation, and the industrial restructuring and technological progress have significant positive effects on alleviating PM_2.5 pollution. As a decomposition item of technological progress, technical change effectively alleviates PM_2.5 pollution. Another important discovery is that the interaction between industrial restructuring and technological progress will aggravate PM_2.5 pollution. Finally, in order to effectively improve China’s air quality, while advocating the Chinese government to pursue high-quality development, this paper puts forward a regional joint prevention mechanism.