Abstract
Investigation of the spatial transfer laws and dynamic mechanisms of pollution-intensive industries (PIIs) is becoming a popular field in regional sustainable development. Based on the statistical data of 30 provinces (cities and districts) in China from 2000 to 2017, this paper applied the Gini coefficient and a redistribution index as well as spatial econometric approaches to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and spatial effects of China’s PIIs. PIIs in China have experienced two transition stages: ‘from north to south’ and ‘from east to central and west’, and the spatial distribution imbalance of PIIs has been gradually improved. In terms of industries, all PIIs in the northeast region were removed; PIIs in the eastern region not only transferred outward but also have experienced an agglomeration effect. The central and western regions were the main areas where transferring PIIs were settling. The distribution of PIIs in China showed a strong spatial correlation and a relatively stable path dependence. Through use of the spatial Dubin model, it is concluded that command-and-control environmental regulation and transportation costs had a negative impact on the distribution of PIIs in this region and a positive impact on the surrounding regions; thus, the pollution haven hypothesis was supported. Resource factors, technological innovation levels, and industrial structure—whether direct or indirect—had an inhibitory effect on the distribution of PII. Capital factors not only promoted the development of PIIs in this region, but also promoted it in other regions. Agglomeration economics had a positive impact on the distribution of PIIs in this region, and a negative impact on the surrounding regions.
Highlights
Since the beginning of the 1970s, governments in both developed and developing countries have enacted or revised a large number of laws and regulations to control environmental pollution [1]
With its rich resources and unique geographical advantages, the eastern coastal region has taken the lead in opening up to the outside world, enabling the eastern coastal region to attract a large volume of foreign investment, and allowing the eastern coastal region to adopt a large amount of foreign advanced management experience and production technology
This paper measured the movement of pollution-intensive industries (PIIs) within China from 2000 to 2017 and analyzed the spatial effect of the distribution of PIIs
Summary
Since the beginning of the 1970s, governments in both developed and developing countries have enacted or revised a large number of laws and regulations to control environmental pollution [1]. In the 1970s, Walter et al proposed the pollution haven hypothesis in response to increasingly stringent ERs and the gradual decline in the output value and export of PIIs in developed countries. China has become the recipient of a large number of pollution-intensive industries (PIIs) from developed countries, which have caused serious environmental pollution problems such as hazy weather, black and smelly water, and ecological damage [5,6]. Since 2008, the transfer PIIs from developed to developing regions in China has attracted broad attention [8,14,17,18]; there are few studies on the impact of different ERs on the redistribution of PIIs [19].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
