Influence of the perceived neighborhood environment on Paying for domestic waste management services in rural China: Evidence from the Xiangtan Prefecture

Abstract

China is promoting a charging policy for rural domestic waste management services (RDWMS). This study investigates the causal link between the perceived neighborhood (natural, social, and political) environment and residents' intention to pay for RDWMS. Using Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the data collected from 310 residents within Xiangtan Prefecture, the pilot area implementing the policy, this study reveals that the perceived quality of the natural environment, social capital, and perceived trustworthiness of local government significantly influence residents’ intention to pay for RDWMS, through two psychological organisms (place attachment and waste risk perception) and two moderators (political identity and household size).