Abstract
Industrial transfer from advanced regions is a good way to foment economic development in less advanced regions. Nevertheless, does industrial transfer intensify or alleviate haze pollution? To answer this question, this study employed the shift-share method and spatial panel models to explore how industrial transfer processes impact haze pollution in the case of China. The main results are as follows: (1) With the advances made in industrial transfer and upgrading, China has entered the stage of decoupling between the economic development level and haze pollution. (2) Industrial transfer could effectively alleviate the degree of haze pollution in the transferred-out areas, but it would have a significant accelerating effect on haze pollution in the transferred-in areas. Compared with non-polluting industries, polluting industries would be responsible for a large deterioration in the local air quality. (3) Environmental regulations, as the main factor mitigating environmental pollution, do not achieve the desired effects and significantly reduce the regional pollution levels that led to haze. Therefore, the effects of industrial transfer should also be comprehensively considered in government of undertake regions. There would likely be great economic costs if the old path of “pollution first and treatment later” is followed. This study not only advances the existing literature, but also is of considerable interest to policy makers.
Highlights
The coexistence of industrialization and urbanization in China has caused increasingly serious haze pollution [1,2,3]
Measured from either the level or scale of industrial transfer, the results of this study prove that the transfer of industrial manufacturing makes haze pollution more severe in areas where polluting industry is relocated too and to some extent alleviates the problem of industrial haze pollution in the original location
Under the gradual advancement of a strategy for industrial transfer, underdeveloped provinces actively undertake the transfer of industries from developed regions and seek economic development opportunities in the process, while developed regions have realized industrial transformation and have begun upgrading their industry
Summary
The coexistence of industrialization and urbanization in China has caused increasingly serious haze pollution [1,2,3]. The main haze components are inhalable particulate matter and fine particles, which can pose a serious threat to human health, and their continued industrial emission will hinder the development of a green and healthy economy in China [4]. Taking the 20 provinces and cities affected by haze pollution in January 2013 as an example, the direct economic losses to transportation and health reached RMB 23 billion [6]. Due to the wide range of areas affected by haze pollution, the hidden dangers to people’s health, and the huge losses caused to the economy [9], the Chinese government has made a great effort to treat atmospheric pollution and has launched a “blue sky” protection campaign to control air pollution in key regions [10,11,12].
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